DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES Across

1 Lion starts tiring on the slope (6)

5 Blow for Judy’s mate (5)

9 Uncommonly pure

Eastern coin (5)

10 Half returned clutching bib

for drinks (7)

11 Graduate’s about to be exposed (4)

12 Essential parts for people in

steel construction (8) 16 One goes off after precious metal, and gets fairy-tale bird (6,5)

18 Went first after beginning

to be frightened (8)

21 Drop into disreputable

bar (4)

23 More even compliment? (7)

24 About time Pip got

horse (5)

25 Hair put back in desserts (5) 26 Most unusual

Sartre novel (6)

Down

2 Drink spilt over an

exceptional star (9)

3 Top monkey,

cross (4)

4 Type of testing making narrator riled (5,3,5)

6 Come together and turn up in retinue (5)

7 Teach despicable

fraudster (5)

8 Close examination

of soft gown (5)

13 Feeling of love in old scooter rider? (4)

14 Horrible stain on head causes spite (9)

15 Amend text,

tied in knots (4)

17 Studies marsh grasses, we hear (5)

19 Roof worker kindled again on return (5)

20 Entitlements announced for religious ceremonies (5)

22 Exploitative person in trousers (4)

QUICK CLUES Across

1 Bulge out in the wind (6)

5 Fasten (5)

9 Topic of discussion (5)

10 Having little depth (7)

11 Jerk (4)

12 Resolution (8)

16 Setting apart, isolation (11)

18 Animal that feeds off another (8)

21 Hand cover (4)

23 Tasteless (7)

24 Heavenly food (5)

25 Sharp (5)

26 Cause lasting bitterness (6)

Down

2 Faithless (9)

3 Fabrications (4)

4 Detergent (7,6)

6 Law-breaker (5)

7 Numbered golf clubs (5)

8 Kitchen flooring (5)

13 Silent or refraining from

speech (4)

14 Easily impassioned (9)

15 Sector (4)

17 Kettle vapour (5)

19 Preceding period (3-2)

20 Beverage (5)

22 Sign of foreboding (4)