thecrosswords
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
1 Fifty cubs around, but only thirteen in the pack (5)
4 Meeting to study diplomacy (7)
8 The refuse has been turned into wood (3) 9 Very bad actor gets involved with debts (9) 10 Bearing out what one would be rude to do (5,2)
11 Put in a claim for prize money (5)
13 The sailor goes back to the girl more willingly (6)
15 Bold prosecutor takes on a cartel (6) 18 What could be finer than a riddle? (5) 19 Arrange a star part in a Western (7) 21 Produced, as it proved (6,3)
23 One again shows anger (3)
24 Comes into line for clothes (7) 25 Legend written by northern French writer
DOWN
1 Music room (7)
2 She carries the torch for others (9) 3 Alec’s fresh mount (5)
4 Bill comes up to telephone, showing concern (6)
5 Despoiled icon is restored to a city of Cyprus (7)
6 An occasion for trouble (3)
7 Concoct a test to discern flavour (5) 12 An illumination for the landing (9) 14 Teams of seven put out by the Spanish (7) 16 Bitterness associated with an age old craft (7) 17 Raise with some relief (6)
18 Fed up with dates having to be rearranged (5)
20 The pay for judges? (5)
22 One type of corn spirit (3)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
1 Heavy blow (5) 4 Depose from priesthood (7) 8 Generation (3)
9 Not joking (2,7)
10 To refrain (7) 11 Cornered with no escape (2,3) 13 Stick together (6) 15 Urgent need (6) 18 Bottomless gulf (5) 19 Surround entirely (7) 21 Produce useful result (4,5) 23 Fuss (3)
24 Without exception (7) 25 A cotton fabric (5)
DOWN
1 Illegal trading (7) 2 Ghostly (9)
3 Group of lions (5) 4 Cheerless (6)
5 To desert (7)
6 Be indebted for (3)
7 Pool of stakes (5) 12 Listen very attentively (2,3,4) 14 Tranquil (7)
16 Strongly disapprove of (7) 17 Utter poverty (6) 18 Compass (5) 20 Extremely important (5) 22 An exploit (3)