CRYPTIC PUZZLE SOLUTION FOR SUN, MAY 22

ACROSS: 9, Con-tract 10, A-(be)li(ef ) 11, I’m-ages 12, Re-are-d 13 Ex-acted 14, Ends 15, Cot-toned on 17 Rerouted 18, P-I-err-ot 19, Slap (rev) 21 Levit-y 24, Greasing the palm of 27, Slater 29, Hand 30, Rap--iers 33, Improper 35, Barking mad 36, Feel 37, Enc-or-es 38, .A.r-madA (rev) 40, P-eset-a 41, Eye (I) 42, Mili-tan-t.

DOWN: 1, For-eboding 2, Sti-r 3, Fan-dan-go 4, Attends 5, Gift wrapped 6, Cinderella 7, G-a-tea-u(lp) 8, Dead be-at 10, A-gain 16, Tor-rent 20, L-atiN (rev) 22, Vamping 23, In character 25, Scrap metal 26, Forwarding 28, Lumbered 31, Ami-c-able 32, Presume 24, Roller 35, Barge 39, Mate(r).