CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Charged too much for being shorn of coat (7)

5. When men do wrong, it’s the devil (5)

8. In the meanwhile it makes miner uneasy (7)

9. I am, in being intoxicated, to keep it within bounds (5)

10. It would rather hug before the fire (9)

12. Bee precedes it in spring (3)

13. Army medic is to start treatment on the tearful (5)

17. It’s odd that it should be red or white (3)

19. Newspapers make the Scots go and dragoon one (5-4)

21. Fifty in the safe that might be counterfeit (5)

22. Marine team found at the coast (7)

24. Be short and steer around it (5)

25. Had a great desire for a twelvemonth to end in disorder (7)

DOWN

1. Escape, necessitating takeoff and landing (6)

2. One who’s put in for natter about nitrogen maybe (7)

3. Vehicle about to go right (3)

4. Object to the way murder is inconclusive (5)

5. Congress members one entrusts to subordinates (9)

6. Imitate a Puccini heroine at first concert (5)

7. Made a clear profit from necessity of holding a race (6)

11. Watch how long it takes to put together (9)

14. Euphoria at having made it alone (7)

15. It’s for turning up in the mine that gain is made (6)

16. Silver sort of mace is settled on (6)

18. Meal first taken by mouth is ground by it (5)

20. Try a work of literature (5)

23. In the style of a wing-like process when joined up (1,2) YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Fires 4. Nomadic 8. Cotta 9. Modicum 10. Doe

11. Contender 12. Host 13. Itch 18. Masculine 20. Run

21. Servant 22. Alibi 23. Concede 24. Siege

Down: 1. Faced the music 2. Ratters 3. Search 4. Naming

5. Midget 6. Diced 7. Comprehensive 14. Termite 15. Curate

16. Little 17. Decays 19. Siren