30-MINUTE CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Not fanciful, being a bit of true history (6-2-4)

7. The enchantment of wise men at a hundred (5)

8. Give firmness to a couple (5)

9. Suitable spasm (3)

10. Nice papal bit of equipment (9)

11. Lure some of the apprentices (6)

12. He does business with fiction to follow? (6)

15. Noble name given to boy usually found in a book (5-4)

17. Be a substitute player? (3)

18. Almost surly croaking (5)

19. Stand a drink as doctors do? (5)

21. Progress in the dark-room? (12)

DOWN

1. Literary fellow - postman for example? (3,2,7)

2. Instigate layer production (3)

3. Take possession of trophy, being strangely coy about it (6)

4. Material consumed in forge (9)

5. One thing leading to another - a sign of slavery (5)

6. Trail obscene festivities (12)

7. French word and French music (5)

10. Original model of cunning eastern kind (9)

13. Pamphlet from a particular region? (5)

14. It’s otherwise up to the actors to produce a Cuban (6)

16. State experience (5)

20. Tree of overwhelming beauty (3)

PREVIOUS SOLUTION

Across: 4 Address; 8 Entire; 9 Isolate; 10 Rankle; 11 Eyelet; 12 Omission; 18 Idealist; 20 Adroit; 21 Finery; 22 Red-head; 23 Ordain; 24 Bearish.

Down: 1 Reproof; 2 Stand-in; 3 Drills; 5 Dispense; 6 Relief; 7 Sitter; 13 Initials; 14 Mineral; 15 Staying; 16 Adhere; 17 Bother; 19 Aviary.