CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. A sort of judge issuing flute-like notes (8)

4. Take a pace back, like Mutt and Moggy (4)

8. What to do to the line in order to conform (3)

9. River mouth has a letter for a Greek (5)

10. On the other hand, almost strike one with your head (3)

11. Alternatively, tonal variation may be given to a bird (7)

12. One of those mistakes that gave rise to comedy (5)

13. Is in favour of one’s calling giving grounds for quarrel (11)

17. A musician may be the one to decorate the cake (5)

18. Hot and so passionate, being marked for the hunt (7)

20. One could ban such collected sayings as being fruity (3)

21. Is unsuited to appearing like this (5)

22. It isn’t true that Weill put it back in (3)

23. Those opposing motion will, we are told, be inquisitive (4)

24. Gets pier built with a certain cachet (8)

DOWN

1. Number one sailor turning up to portion things out (6)

2. A coffer may be expanded with inspiration (5)

3. In Paris she goes north to find a girl (5)

5. Turning amber, proceed, only to find there’s a stoppage (7)

6. He has his rings, Heaven knows! (6)

7. Father has torn his cowl, showing the state he’s in (10)

9. Is engaged in a round occupation perhaps (10)

14. Salesman is given material to put back (7)

15. Right sort of pains suffered in a muscular wrench (6)

16. Had to be changed, before it would stick (6)

18. Tradesman who followed the butcher before the candlestick maker (5)

19. I held out for capital in the subcontinent (5)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION: Across 1. Cartwheel 5. Gas 7. Park 8. Fearsome

10. Bandages 11. Belt 13. Enfold 15. Tinsel 18. Bath 19. Darkroom

22. Ironical 23. Wire 24. Dis 25. Cheerless

Down 1. Capable 2. Rerun 3. Exeter 4. Lark 5. Grovels 6. Sweat 9. Dally

12. Dicky 14. Fatuous 16. Limpets 17. Savage 18. Blind 20. Olive 21. Disc