THE CROSSWORDS

CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS

1 Surrounded ring in conclusion (9)

8 I buy and sell to perfection (5)

9 Gulping down a mixture of gin and grog (7)

10 Send back a statistical form (6)

11 There’s something precious in one set of twins (6)

12 Misses unpopular with photographers (3,5) 15 Walks uncertainly into a scene of chaos (8) 18 It’s said to produce a smile (6)

20 Polish or polish off (6)

21 A sturdy breed of mostly blue and gold (7) 22 Happen to come later (5)

23 Make a song about a charming woman changing places (9)

DOWN

A hanging symbol may disturb one so (5)

3 Swedish girl riding around (6)

4 He will appreciate people with good taste (8)

5 Several kinds of birds (6)

6 Very keen to attack (3,4)

7 One is glad to be so close (9)

11 Departs later - in pursuit? (4,5)

13 Ignore a reduction (8)

14 Film with a good finish (7)

16 Outstanding leaders of men (6)

17 Often drunk: too much is bad for it (6) 19 Demonstrated a way to proceed in opposite directions (5)

QUICK CLUES ACROSS

1 Hand-held guns (5,4)

8 Sudden business collapse (5) 9 On horseback (7)

10 Pamper (6)

11 City in SW Switzerland (6) 12 impecunious (5,3) 15 Immaculate (8)

18 Wearisome (6)

20 Scotch (6)

21 Mostly (7)

22 Have sovereign power (5) 23 Engage singly in an enterprise (2,2,5)

DOWN

2 North American elk (5)

3 To tarry (6)

4 Likely to cooperate (8) 5 Group of porpoises (6) 6 Hearing range (7)

7 Signal requesting a truce (5,4)

11 Conjecture (9)

13 Divert attention of (8) 14 Artful (7)

16 Penchant (6)

17 Sparing (6)

19 Man-made silky material (5)