CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Characteristic plain shown by being under the note? (8)

4. Waterlocked land is, the French conclude (4)

8. Thus looking ugly (3)

9. The hammer under which things come yielded fifty (5)

10. Plump, semi-outsize: physical training needed (3)

11. Man about the house perhaps to manage with economy (7) 12. The man to play a Dickensian character with hesitation? (5) 13. Group of players gets better of such as conduct them (11) 17. Prohibition applied to GI, one hears, has strings attached (5) 18. What wetland does as it remains inconspicuous? (4,3)

20. Whatever the amount, a lot lose their head (3)

21. Picture-book? Nothing in it, perhaps, to begin with (5)

22. Give as one’s best tip what supplies rub of the cloth? (3) 23. A knot could be undone without international politicians (4) 24. Bets the heart beats a little irregularly (8)

DOWN

1. Some steps - as taken by one making his escape? (6)

2. Pins consist of about ten beers (5)

3. Didn’t spend everything - except old coppers! (5)

5. Arrest for each one involved in a bottleneck (7)

6. Folk who lose their leader grow weary, but are all there (6)

7. Fielders right in the side that follows fast-moving vehicle (10) 9. Sort of piano it all adds up to - that’s all there is (5,5)

14. Was pestering girl with ring being yoked: OK? No! (7)

15. Get and hold good (6)

16. Blows to pass a duster over in craft (6)

18. It says what’s included by American president in the fifties (5) 19. Boy making a clean break (5)