THE CROSSWORD

PUZZLE 14963

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 The heartless politician with no time for music (5) 4 Where Joan of Arc was bound to be in jeopardy (2,5) 8 Pole following like a fool (3) 9 Financial expert comes into trouble (9) 10 I am included in exchanges of invective (7) 11 A bulk transport in Afghanistan (5) 13 Some take him for a scallywag - rightly! (6) 15 He forms characters and puts them in books (6) 18 It’s an advantage for this girl to return (5) 19 Prayers from a money supplier to America (7) 21 Turn pride into downfall (9) 23 An attempt to indicate time past (3) 24 Business affair (7) 25 Given such a start where you should be (5)

DOWN

1 It pulls cart up hill (7) 2 Suspects water vapour causes corrosion (9) 3 Love to run the eye over a mountain nymph (5) 4 There’s nothing in a trick to excite (6) 5 Recreation for the potter (7) 6 A name of some special interest (3) 7 Once the article for sale comes up, commend it (5) 12 Striking weapon for a formidable lady (6-3) 14 Bad air in cave may induce cupidity (7) 16 Ponders in order to make an appropriate reply (7) 17 People who are not in a movement to reform (6) 18 Subject of a Canaletto picture (5) 20 Gone astray near a port in Italy (5) 22 Manage to put on some speed (3)

ACROSS QUICK CLUES

1 Area of calm amid turmoil (5) 4 Reward or punishment merited (7) 8 Hostile (3) 9 Very simple (4,2,3) 10 Gratify wishes of (7) 11 Easy to digest (5) 13 Close at hand (6) 15 Affix (6) 18 Bewildered (2,3) 19 Oriental (7) 21 Controversial issue (3,6) 23 Climbing evergreen shrub (3) 24 Severely self-denying (7) 25 General movement (5)

DOWN

1 What one thinks on an issue (7) 2 Period of youthful inexperience (5,4) 3 Turn of work (5) 4 Creator of Mickey Mouse (6) 5 Onion-like plant (7) 6 Tear forcibly (3) 7 Power of detection (5) 12 Informal channel of communication (9) 14 Corroborate (4,3) 16 Sweet-sounding (7) 17 Hold in custody (6) 18 Remains of a fire (5) 20 Brief (5) 22 A beverage (3)