{ THE CROSSWORDS }

PUZZLE 16017

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Kidnap the sailor on the canal (6)

4 To create book-space, push something aside (6)

9 Forced air out of wine (7)

10 It’s up for approval (5)

11 I sent out for a mug (5)

12 He went through hell to get his wife back. Then lost her (7)

13 It’s inserted in order to provide impartiality (11)

18 Book to keep (7)

20 Try to gain the favour of a tribunal (5) 22 The rest of the night (5)

23 Bird with no head for danger? (7)

24 Do let’s make changes for the first-born (6) 25 Joins in, harmoniously (6)

DOWN

1 Not quite out of St. Malo (6)

2 Avoid yielding a trick (5)

3 Put a chit in for wine (7)

5 He gets put out and excited (3,2)

6 Possibly all sure of honours gained (7) 7 Raise with some relief (6)

8 Give spot cash right on time? (3,2,3,3)

14 A change in dates offered as an alternative (7)

15 Article about a performance of music (7) 16 Quickly throw remainder in Italian river (6) 17 Uses artistry in eating out (6)

19 One knows them to be well-informed (5) 21 A league match (5)

QUICK CLUES

ACROSS

1 Imprudent (6) 4 Shrewdness (6)

9 Everyday (7)

10 Underlying (5)

11 Particle (5)

12 Save from destruction (7) 13 Badly thought out (11) 18 Adage (7)

20 Custom (5)

22 Make suitable (5)

23 To sum up (2,5)

24 Time of greatest vigour (6) 25 Sculptured figure (6)

DOWN

1 The greatest possible (6) 2 Shrink back in pain (5) 3 Fetter (7)

5 Group of conspirators (5) 6 Identify wrongly (7) 7 Silvery-white metal (6) 8 Melted cheese on toast (5,6) 14 An irregularity (7)

15 Restrain (7)

16 Ostentatious display (6) 17 Suppress (6)

19 Crowd scene actor (5) 21 Constructed (5)