THE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Check condition and replace (9) 8 Pole in space; a scene of much action (5) 9 City investment funds (7) 10 Dress for touring around but not the north (3,3) 11 The short answer about foreign capital (6) 12 Giving a signal when slowing down (8) 15 It was once the talk of India (8) 18 Develop part of a revolver (6) 20 Reluctant as ever to reform (6) 21 Tabitha makes a place for animals and

plants (7) 22 A send-off for the wrongdoer (5) 23 She may suit you (9)

DOWN

2 Right to insist upon (5) 3 Is done incorrectly it’s rumoured (6) 4 Convey by moving picture? (8) 5 Get in a pie - for this? (6) 6 Perhaps I posted the first payment (7) 7 Reprimand showing players one way out (9) 11 Deserters stop at sea perhaps (9) 13 Nevertheless will not be content with just part (5,3) 14 Succeed with a will in their resolve (7) 16 Lot of Arabs (6) 17 He is or could be a shopkeeper (6) 19 Five sail out in vessels (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Very unsafe structure (9) 8 Bring up (5) 9 Deliberative assembly (7) 10 To snare (6) 11 Become smaller (6) 12 Less well than usual (5,3) 15 Without reservation (8) 18 Responsible (6) 20 Shrewd (6) 21 Approximately (7) 22 Reveal a secret (3,2) 23 Assess a situation (4,5)

DOWN

2 Notable period of history (5) 3 A court game (6) 4 Be ambitious (5,3) 5 Forthwith (6) 6 Break continuity in (7) 7 No Clue 11 Erudite (9) 13 Unleash (3,5) 14 Written law (7) 16 Resolved (6) 17 Objective aimed at (6) 19 A flowering shrub (5)

PUZZLE 14955