Two-speed coffeebreak
Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same.
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS
1 The odd quiet president (5)
5 Fleas fly?
Not true (5) 9 Rushed out of France (3) 10 Whisper of most important single (5)
11 Ivan flew after article like a bird (5) 12 Growling about argument (3) 13 Beastly medic? (3)
14 Juicer contains cold item (3) 16 Confused a year with a shorter time (3) 18 Once ran from French convert (6)
21 Loud, confusing game (4)
23 Two essays have problems (4) 26 Composer sounds more correct (6) 29 Guided by small light (3) 31 Faced with expert (3)
32 A turn previously (3) 34 Knock a style of music (3) 36 Resort on the right is more pleasant (5) 37 Animated a veil badly (5) 38 Gladstone’s son (3)
39 Dragged amphibian, say (5) 40 Tries out columns (5)
DOWN
1 The first composer to journey (6)
2 Vera organised dance party (4) 3 Joined the team (6)
4 Deity in charge of alarm (5) 5 Dismissed if turning socialist (5) 6 Bother at a party (3) 7 Crude sort of weld (4) 8 Notice eastern agent (4) 15 Periodical wit (5)
17 Copy of tapestry (3)
19 Won over for the present (3) 20 Fewer around animal (3) 22 Roused about employment (3) 24 Nothing clear about seer (6) 25 Weapons for small quarrel (6)
27 Quick to knock with identification (5) 28 Principle of reversibility? (5) 29 Final use of salt (4)
30 Sketch a tie (4)
33 Rage about clothing (4) 35 Talented with a drink (3)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS
1 Winning suit (5)
5 Disloyal (5)
9 Sprinted (3)
10 Stage whisper (5)
11 Relating to birds (5) 12 Quarrel (3)
13 Animal doctor (3) 14 Frozen water (3)
16 Period of time (3) 18 Encipher (6)
21 Board game (4)
23 Troubles (4)
26 Author (6)
29 Went ahead (3)
31 Playing card (3)
32 In the past (3)
34 Sharp blow (3)
36 More agreeable (5) 37 Breathing (5)
38 Boy (3)
39 Pulled (5)
40 Layers (5)
DOWN
1 Make a journey (6)
2 Babble (4)
3 Merged (6)
4 Sudden terror (5) 5 Sacked (5)
6 Fuss (3)
7 Suggestive (4)
8 Catch sight of (4) 15 Stand-up (5)
17 Primate (3)
19 Immediately (3) 20 Female sheep (3) 22 Exploit (3)
24 Prophet (6)
25 Sabres (6)
27 Fast (5)
28 Belief (5)
29 Ultimate (4)
30 Pull (4)
33 Cog (4)
35 Beer (3)