CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1. Tell tale that’s about, for example, to send one down (8) 7. Man involved in crime first and last is sound as a bell (5) 8. Stroll along and get taken in by posh car as a hiker (7) 9. Is the French to take in the Greek ‘p’ as a letter? (7) 10. It doubles back on itself where one may swim backwards (4) 12. Under a misapprehension, it may escape one in divine degree (7) 14. Turn forbidden in 14 Down for the rest of the estate (7) 17. Men-only affair at which to buy shares for immediate sale (4) 18. Angle of defence of line being broken, sat around (7) 21. Tend to be at home with chorus-leader and have a row (7) 22. Among medical people, for instance, they are left in a bottle (5) 23. Dispatched when mouthpiece was about to be begrudged (8)

DOWN 1. Gunners depend on it, but not often (6) 2. Light that soon changes when they satirise people (8) 3. One easily conned a bird at sea (4) 4. Could be a dearth of what a needlewoman may need (6) 5. Soundly regretted the absence of such obscurity (4) 6. Half made to look out for oneself, and so resist attack (6) 7. Kid is holding the French just off the ice (7) 11. For a second time judges how one buys back a pledge (7) 13. I’d turned up, sticking to the rules somewhere thereabouts (8) 14. Take up abode that’s non-u in 14 Across (6) 15. Ten are upset by anger but are all there (6) 16. Decided silver buck should be given up to it (6) 19. German art song told stories (4) 20. Bach eventually revealed how he had to suffer (4)

SATURDAY’S SOLUTION:

Across 1. Explorative 6. Awl 8. Crest 10. Unbuckled 11. Nile 12. Chino 13. Rock-dove 16. Kissers 17. City 18. Stot 19. Perturb 21. Starless 23. Impel 26. Foal 27. Heartburn 28. Craze 29. Way 30. Confinement

Down 1. Encyclical 2. Plenipotentiary 3. Outlook 4. Tango 5. Escudos 6. All over the place 7. Lode 9. Sin 13. Reserve 14. Cheques 15. Entailment 19. Piratic 20. Brioche 22. Serif 24. Mar 25. Show