THE CROSSWORDS
PUZZLE 15708
CRYPTIC CLUES
ACROSS
1 No help as an antiseptic? But it is (6) 4 Nevertheless desirous of obtaining a monopoly (5,3) 9 Meeting points (6) 10 Decline to make way for a successor? (4,4) 12 Lady mad about being socially acceptable (4) 13 Pity’s stirred by those influenced by drink (5) 14 Final shape for a shoe (4) 17 Complete with food for the road (12) 20 They’re put to work by turns (12) 23 They’re very expert ones (4) 24 Rings friends about a letter (5) 25 Female wear that wasn’t long in fashion (4) 28 Incomparable lady about fifty (8) 29 Note by a doctor to one going to a foreign country (6) 30 Vinegar and oil is bound to help the wound (8) 31 Strained inspiration to produce a joke (6)
DOWN
1 Fellow actor? (8) 2 He has the will to settle things (8) 3 The chances of racing (4) 5 In sound condition, though possibly highly strung (3,2,1,6) 6 See the key goes to the agent (4) 7 Morning viva voce quite unethical (6) 8 The long version lacks nothing in duration (6) 11 Individual non-member of a union (6,6) 15 Grass on which one may lie (5) 16 Morally weak, perhaps, giving Father trouble (5) 18 Possibly liberal over a point, but trustworthy (8) 19 Calculate worth of odd items to eat perhaps (8) 21 Sharply rebuked, but sounding overjoyed (6) 22 Fall back and surrender for a second time (6) 26 High spots of a European tour (4) 27 Very little animation (4)
QUICK CLUES
ACROSS
1 Artful (6) 4 Well-off (8) 9 A French porcelain (6) 10 Breed of retriever (8) 12 Move by small degrees (4) 13 A rye liquor (5) 14 Strong impulse (4) 17 Open and sincere (2,3,2,3,2) 20 Embodiment (12) 23 Principal role in play (4) 24 Opera by Gounod (5) 25 Small piece of ground (4) 28 Word for word (8) 29 Tried and tested (6) 30 Evocative (8) 31 Go the rounds (6)
DOWN
1 Extremely robust (4-4) 2 Recommend (8) 3 In that case (4) 5 A fragrant gum resin (12) 6 Lie in ambush (4) 7 To last (6) 8 Mediterranean country (6) 11 Reparation (12) 15 Thighbone (5) 16 Semblance (5) 18 Enjoying luxury (2,6) 19 Soldier on guard (8) 21 Mentally quick (6) 22 Holy (6) 26 Loss of greatness (4) 27 Region (4)