CROSSWORD

Roger Squires No. 3,400

ACROSS

1 Offhand royalist (8) 5 He won’t buy the same article

twice (6) 9 I’d set about ally so false (8) 10 A girl graduate about to burst

into tears (6) 12 Observes appearances (5) 13 Border poet’s whiskers (9) 14 Ecclesiastical vestments may

hide them (6) 16 Casual footwear for bakers?

(7) 19 Carriage capsized at road

crossing (7) 21 Holy commands (6) 23 Used for getting in the drink after opening time (9) 25 An embrace for Lady Grey

(5) 26 A tradesman has trouble occupying a high position (6) 27 Banter becomes hurtful in

time (8) 28 He’s not bent but on the level

(6) 29 Back one aiming to retain his

title (8)

DOWN

1 Hold in close affection (6) 2 What he sees is immaterial (9) 3 Rings to fix a reel up (5) 4 Refreshed as sleep passes

away (7) 6 River authority as a sporting

target (9) 7 A voice, of course (5) 8 Have another think about seas

breaking over the ship (8) 11 I’d look up to one who’s

worshipped (4) 15 Wicked, embraced Virginia,

bubbly required (9) 17 How rain falls to form hard

water (9) 18 Cricket side and ground not

in tune (3-5) 20 Playboy with nothing to feel

sorry about (4) 21 Ring through at one point for

work (7) 22 Win, possibly earned (6) 24 Put a curb round gelding’s

head and get control (5) 25 Quick breathing (5)

SOLUTION to Peter Chamberlain No. 691: Across - 6 Pique, 9 At the double, 10 Roast, 11 Featureless, 12 Often, 13 Laden, 15 Satan, 16 Admit, 18 Optical, 20 Owlet, 22 Habit, 24 Fumed, 27 Thyme, 28 Faith healer, 29 Intro, 30 League table, 31 Emend. Down - 1 Lawful, 2 Strand, 3 Return to the fold, 4 Somerset, 5 Object, 6 Personal effects, 7 Quantum, 8 Extinct, 14 Avow, 17 Idle, 19 Catch out, 20 Outsize, 21 Layette, 23 Bridal, 25 Malibu, 26 Darker.