CROSSWORd

Across

1 equip an old man to fight the final battle (10) 8 estella’s admirer was given it – the bird (5) 9 Crook taken in hand by a bishop (7) 10 Wanted a knighthood, indeed (7)

11 Levels up the odds (5) 12 The rest of spain (6) 14 roar and bluster about the spanish (6) 17 allude, one way or the other (5) 19 hide the port (7) 21 assign work to a writer (7)

22 Little matters, as Tom found out (5)

23 Well in front, not left behind (5,5)

Down

2 a quick reply showing wit or spite perhaps (7) 3 bill hill takes part (5) 4 does get confused about copper Portuguese money (6) 5 see ice does turn into it (7) 6 one is disturbed by it (5) 7 Puzzles resulting in arguments? (10) 8 one without a car needs a trip out (10)

13 Not a straightforward job for woodworkers (7) 15 a boy or a girl (7) 16 menace of the mad hatter (6)

18 The problem before us (5) 20 straight bit of river to arrive at (5)