CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

4/3 ACROSS

1. Tell tale that’s about, for instance, to send one down (8)

7. Man involved in crime first and last is sound as a bell (5)

8. Go for a stroll and be taken in by posh car as a hiker (7)

9. Is the French to take in Greek ‘p’ as a letter? (7)

10. It doubles back on itself where one may swim, backwards (4)

12. Under a misapprehension, it may escape one in divine degree (7)

14. Turn forbidden in 14 Down for the rest of the estate (7)

17. Men-only affair at which to buy shares for immediate sale (4)

18. Angle of defence of line being broken, sat around (7)

21. Tend to be at home with cheer-leader and have a row (7)

22. Among medical people, for example, they’re left in the bottle (5)

23. Dispatched when mouthpiece was about to be grudged (8) DOWN

1. Gunners depend on it seldom (6)

2. Light soon changes as they satirise people (8)

3. One easily conned a bird at sea (4)

4. Could be a dearth of what needlewoman uses (6)

5. Soundly regretted the absence of such obscurity (4)

6. Half made to look out for oneself and resist attack (6)

7. Kid is holding the French just off the ice (7)

11. For a second time judges how one buys back pledge (7)

13. I’d turned up, sticking to the rules somewhere local (8)

14. Take up abode that’s non-u in 14 Across (6)

15. Ten are upset by anger, but are all there (6)

16. Decided silver buck should be put up for it (6)

19. Told stories in German art-song (4)

20. Bach eventually revealed how he had to suffer (4)