THE CROSSWORDS

ACROSS

1 A smoke screen? (6,3)

8 Board has the agreement of the French and German (5)

9 Italian consumer groups may accept such cases (7)

10 This boat may be tied up (6)

11 Illicitly acquired bundle of pound notes (6) 12 Accelerator or choke (8)

15 Goes off in a bad temper? (8)

18 No robe for a king (6)

20 They’re known for insurance, in the main (6) 21 A beautiful woman describes Eastern ways (7)

22 Study on leave in Africa (5)

23 Denis seen to be wanting (9)

DOWN

2 Mixed paint is unsuitable (5)

3 Three times they initially faced new peril (6) 4 Advanced in a rush, but thought better of it (8) 5 Shoot at nothing but obtain something to eat (6)

6 Persons out - on patrol? (7)

7 Stock-holder (6,3)

11 His clients expect a polished performance (9) 13 Found the answer again, being determined (8) 14 Dad’s turn to indicate name for an office, perhaps (7)

16 Very likely a peculiar boy (4-2)

17 Standard pen has a good point on (6) 19 Begins with writers on love (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Awareness (9) 8 Reluctance to work (5) 9 Sceptically (7) 10 Trapped (6)

11 An edible shellfish (6) 12 Raw cabbage salad (8) 15 An unguent (8) 18 Actually (2,4)

20 Quit (6)

21 Head toward (4,3) 22 Crisply brief (5)

23 The accused (9)

DOWN

2 Unpleasant (5)

3 Ghost (6)

4 Surround (8)

5 Total possessions (6) 6 Approximately (7)

7 True state of affairs (5,4) 11 Obsolete (3-2-4)

13 To contest in lawsuit (8) 14 To animate (7) 16 Noticeable (6) 17 Displease (6)

19 Buffoon (5)