CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. In France, a bit of old cloth has a pleasant smell (9)

5. What’s in the main cut, with tail removed? (3)

7. Where strangers are refreshed at the wicket two ways (4)

8. Thinking much of maid upset by band (8)

10. To brook much that’s returned, tear around East (8)

11. A bit of building land to mark on the map (4)

13. Throughout the time of the French Wagner cycle (6)

15. Naked figures scattering round top of dunes, a bit abrupt (6)

18. Rotten place to live, where rubbish disposal is effected (4)

19. A teacher of ethics, Mother is golden-hearted with catalogue (8)

22. The reporting of a hundred, too old! (8)

23. Is coping its highest achievement? (4)

24. Half what is aimed at may be found on the road (3)

25. It’s all in a day’s work (or sport!) to them (9)

DOWN

1. Had an adventure with danger, maybe, but could lift Red out (7)

2. Abolish the yearbook for showing a loss (5)

3. Condition to which one is unsuited? (6)

4. Very bad way to cook with spices, with top removed (4)

5. Subjected to questioning, came under a good deal of heat (7)

6. Something worth seeing, and the ability to do so (5)

9. A handle with a bend in it for an eccentric (5)

12. Painting without canvas goes straight to the wall (5)

14. He shifts one’s furniture with class right at the end (7)

16. Get from the sea, lest it differs: they’re painful to touch (7)

17. Something to do up, having got up with broken leg (6)

18. Old money for French nobleman at the end (5)

20. Half of Persia now, consumed with anger (5)

21. The Greek you and I turned up got more and more (4)

MONDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Farcical 7. Exist 8. Simpers 9. Explore 10. Army

12. Shunted 14. Portent 17. Stow 18. Anthill 21. Lyrical 22. Slang

23. Sweaters

Down: 1. Fiscal 2. Remember 3. Item 4. Assets 5. Kilo 6. Attend

7. Expound 11. Chewing 13. Tentacle 14. Praise 15. Tallow

16. Swells 19. Team 20. Aria

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MONDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 7. Larder 8. Malice 10. Secrete 11. React 12. Obey 13. Given

17. Nadir 18. Pale 22. Brawn 23. Nonplus 24. Rudder 25. Repent Down: 1. Blossom 2. Proceed 3. Deter 4. Barrier 5. Vital 6. Deity

9. Deficient 14. Saunter 15. Vaulted 16. Density 19. Abort 20. Gaudy

21. Onset

MONDAY’S SOLUTIONS