the crosswords

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Girl with fish to sell down the river (6) 4 Branch is not on fire (8) 9 Bill comes back with a new coil of fabric (6) 10 Prior is a clergyman in a religious setting (8) 12 Freight unopened in Jason’s ship (4) 13 Figure it looks like a quiet copy (5) 14 Father to the French wife of a German husband? (4) 17 Telephone booths? (12) 20 Unstable gambling den? (5,2,5) 23 Still equal (4) 24 Ancient characters around Omagh? (5) 25 Course for an ethnic group (4) 28 I respect newly presented evidence of settlements (8) 29 Policeman determined to evade responsibility (3,3) 30 It’s inclined to lie low if troubles intervene (8) 31 Pastel composition used in the dining room (6)

DOWN

1 Through luck perhaps (2,6) 2 Reg gets entangled with metal wire (8) 3 Chief means of support (4) 5 A company offer of a certain kind? (4,8) 6 Husband to rescue (4) 7 Do sour ingredients make scents? Yes! (6) 8 Sit out with a girl in gauzy fabric (6) 11 Limited in one’s outlook (5-7) 15 Rose paid for the drinks (5) 16 The length a boxer will go to (5) 18 Rash action of convicts? (5-3) 19 It will contain a fire (8) 21 Examine closely for fallen arches (6) 22 Eyebrow-raising writer (6) 26 They went to market on foot (4) 27 Sort of music showing spirit? (4)

ACROSS QUICK CLUES

1 Pester (6) 4 Duplicitous (3-5) 9 Simple, unsophisticated (6) 10 General handyman (8) 12 Unite by treaty (4) 13 Intimidated (5) 14 Massive breakwater (4) 17 State of affairs (6,2,4) 20 Compensate for a painful necessity (5,3,4) 23 Distinctive atmosphere (4) 24 Stipulations (5) 25 Catch sight of (4) 28 Supercilious (8) 29 Formal proposal for debate (6) 30 Revealing (8) 31 For the time being (3,3)

DOWN

1 Buildings to house soldiers (8) 2 Forlorn (8) 3 Film of heroic scale (4) 5 Very enjoyable experience (5,2,1,4) 6 What becomes of a person (4) 7 Sewing thread (6) 8 A discouraging influence (6) 11 Active Mexican volcano (12) 15 Finely ground meal (5) 16 Plant with daisy-like flowers (5) 18 Locate precisely (8) 19 A precious metal (8) 21 Wealthy tycoon (3,3) 22 Make a journey (6) 26 Lacking effervescence (4) 27 Morose (4)