CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. King Goldfinger? (5)

4. Principal male character, in bed with a cigar (7)

8. Feel that it is common, with nous (5)

9. One making a noise in the leaves will be a cattle thief (7)

10. Mess of spilled type one could get one’s teeth into (3)

11. King, at present on the shelf, is acquired with learning

(9)

12. What on the watering-can may be watering the hybrid tea (4)

13. In Europe, South Africa showed one who sold his birthright (4)

18. How to breathe in and sleep during the Winter (9)

20. It’s not an impediment if it’s added to decoration (3)

21. He shared Britannia’s weapon (7)

22. Thread the end of the rope through for a bird (5)

23. With sex appeal, sends a mixture of tristfulness (7)

24. Tears about and scolds one (5)

DOWN

1. Wrongly understands schoolmistress is about to arrest somebody (13)

2. They were perils that Red sang about (7)

3. Perhaps asks about physical education as one gives utterance (6)

4. Motor it is good for the French to have a copy of (6)

5. How could the East slay one? Without difficulty! (6)

6. Intoxicated, which made things run smoothly (5)

7. 75% of rugby players (5-8)

14. A monarch’s man is something to talk about (7)

15. Grumble about a bird being game (6)

16. Skips about with the flower-buds in pickle (6)

17. Awful fear of last recent mistake (6)

19. One quietly appearing in the cot, a two-footer (5) YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Innumerable 8. Titan 9. Needles 10. Reverse

11. Inner 12. Missal 14. Sharks 18. Gloat 19. Handler

21. Robbers 23. Leave 24. Discernment

Down: 1. Interim 2. Natives 3. Minor 4. Runner 5. Blemish

6. Eel 7. Miser 13. Artless 15. Release 16. Serpent 17. Chaste

18. Girth 20. Nylon 22. Bud