CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

1 Allege mollusc has one (5) 5 Second instrument is out of tune (5) 9 Stolen from both others (3) 10 Praise former spouse returning lot (5) 11 Stare wildly at bloom (5) 12 Low-flying bird (3) 13 Regard for diocese (3) 14 Man of defiance (3) 16 May return something to eat (3) 18 Talk about treat after new start (6) 21 He’s in a whirl (4) 23 Changes as to fodder (4) 26 Shouted, terribly ardent (6) 29 Charge three notes (3) 31 Speaking about food (3) 32 Roderick has some poetry (3) 34 Clapped around course (3) 36 Longed for tree on the day (5) 37 Old tales get translated (5) 38 Noticed about diamonds (3) 39 Turn part of car (5) 40 Imperils rector with kiss, oddly (5)

DOWN

1 Reportedly pursued for being pure (6) 2 Mislay sole arrangement (4) 3 Visit a race to conclusion (6) 4 Deserve new timer (5) 5 Weight of rock (5) 6 Question the method (3) 7 Everything unknown to friend (4) 8 Ramp upsetting pushchair (4) 15 Compensate by sending a note (5) 17 Perform in Clacton (3) 19 Ray drunk on port (3) 20 About to have nothing but deer (3) 22 Animal gives party energy (3) 24 A professor is a handsome youngster (6) 25 Food for Scandinavians (6) 27 Shock a quiet friend (5) 28 Thanks for every candle (5) 29 Wolf crossing stream (4) 30 Different in feel, seriously (4) 33 Knock down with cards (4) 35 Devoured more than seven, say (3)

Solutions in Monday’s Irish Daily Mirror