CRYPTIC CLUES thecrosswords

ACROSS

1 and 14 Down: Notedly unsafe seats within the party? (7,6)

5 First odd results of splits (5)

8 Finds out if beatings are regular (5,3,5) 9 Book a strong man (5)

10 Honour a relation (7)

11 Girls admired by servicemen, though stuck-up (3-3)

12 Get a move on, having reached double figures (6)

15 Refuse to get a new bib in a hurry (7) 17 The way things go? (5) 19 Circumvents inadequate current plans (5-8) 20 Light beam that’s very strong (5)

21 Shot at you, as peas might be (7)

DOWN

1 Those in Italian society who break the rules (5)

2 In which incantations are recorded? (8,5) 3 Reckons groups of actors are increasing (5,2) 4 Lehar composition about love, set in Pakistan (6)

5 From experience one knows them to be useful for mountaineers (5) 6 Provided what was necessary - as an impresario did (6,3,4)

7 Free from bitterness (7)

11 Reading up Lear’s ruin (7)

13 It’s meant to be read, so make it clear (7) 14 See 1 Across

16 In the meantime I’m after it (5) 18 Treated ill (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Fabric with raised design (7) 5 Chef’s tall hat (5)

8 Dexterity in conjuring (7,2,4) 9 Meaning (5)

10 Reticence (7)

11 Powerful (6)

12 Texan city (6)

15 Come to grips (7)

17 Furry freshwater mammal (5) 19 Any tactics permitted (2,5,6) 20 Imposing arrangement (5) 21 Constancy (7)

DOWN

1 First principle (5)

2 A marine scientist (13) 3 To increase in size (7) 4 Secure by intimidation (6) 5 Small tassels (5) 6 Four-sided figure (13) 7 Infinite (7) 11 Purplish red (7) 13 An irregularity (7) 14 Ship (6) 16 Flourishing (5) 18 Healthily red (5)