the crossword

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Laid quiet perhaps? No, it’s actually murder (9) 8 Goatlike figure heads a list of animals (5) 9 Restricts Army grub (7) 10 He has absolute control of the French

vessel (6) 11 Puts one off in a humble way? (6) 12 A quiet little craving (8) 15 Date-producer oddly in a temper about

the pound (4,4) 18 Act One needs rewriting straight away (2,4) 20 Show preference for a penthouse (4-2) 21 Major acting role in Shaw play (7) 22 Result in a case of two men sued for

damages (5) 23 Port gives mother a bad character (9)

DOWN

2 I’m a long time making a picture (5) 3 Neutral gear (6) 4 Is around perhaps but it disappeared ages ago (8) 5 Spent two notes at the entertainment (6) 6 Fruitful source of fairytale transport (7) 7 Domineering lady that knights had to bear (6-3) 11 Charm died out when dissipated (9) 13 Agreeable countryman about fifty (8) 14 Case Len resolved to clear up (7) 16 Summer’s sway (6) 17 He has taking ways (6) 19 About time! (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Boisterous revelry (4,5) 8 Further (5) 9 Carelessly put together (7) 10 Tentative proposal (6) 11 Eloquent public speaker (6) 12 Take away by deduction (8) 15 Inventive (8) 18 Informal alliance (6) 20 Push with force (6) 21 Sparing (7) 22 Line of mountains (5) 23 Suspend action on indefinitely (3,2,4)

DOWN

2 Become subject to (5) 3 Fireplace (6) 4 Physically present (2,6) 5 Chosen for excellence (6) 6 Astral (7) 7 Children’s story (5,4) 11 Not in the agreed order (3,2,4) 13 Extravagant publicity (8) 14 Thrilling (7) 16 Arched part of human foot (6) 17 Send into exile (6) 19 Up to the time of (5)