THE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Robin starts to indicate complicity in trick (8) 5 Posh sort of business (4) 9 It’s time the doctor returned the letter (5) 10 His progress is slow but sure (7) 11 Urgent requirement at the laundry? (8,4) 13 Held with an awkward grip (6) 14 Reduced fare for buffet users? (6) 17 London maybe profits from cause of taxation (7,5) 20 Little devil learning to beg (7) 21 Some of the clientele mistake it for a resin (5) 22 Pedestrian walkway? (4) 23 Even its pursuers want to be (8)

DOWN

1 Bad shot that catches the eye (4) 2 Ended series having exceeded time allowed (7) 3 Not a strong clue for a mixture lacking strength (4,8) 4 Cloth put down to cover flesh and blood (6) 6 A row between neighbours? (5) 7 One takes off to Paris maybe about December 1st (8) 8 Counterfeiting next year’s coins and prospering (7,5) 12 Currently offensive? (8) 15 Make believe (7) 16 Uncover swindle (6) 18 Is rising to go for a drink (5) 19 Keen to rise as a singer (4)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Out of action (8) 5 Style of clothing (4) 9 Hurled (5) 10 Plant such as clover (7) 11 Once in a while (12) 13 Europe’s second longest river (6) 14 An often parasitic songbird (6) 17 Able to be understood (12) 20 Harass (7) 21 Shrub of heath genus (5) 22 Head cook (4) 23 Power of seeing (8)

DOWN

1 Silly (4) 2 A merest trace (7) 3 Defy credibility (6,6) 4 Involve unavoidably (6) 6 Ring-shaped coral reef (5) 7 Extravagant publicity (8) 8 Be in earnest (4,8) 12 Sea, arm of the Mediterranean (8) 15 Sudden large financial gain (7) 16 Lacking warmth (6) 18 Succinct (5) 19 Firmly fixed (4)

PUZZLE 14992