TWO-WAY TEASER
CRYPTIC CLUES ACROSS
7 Minister could have given me hoary secret to spread about (4,9) 8 How I palm a token, having a passion for stealing things (11) 12 Treat one to stories, for example, when in real trouble (6) 14 A tell-tale might give hints of carbon content (6) 16 Language of the numerals (6) 18 Tap, sputter, and go inside (6) 19 Again thinks about team being in different corners (11) 23 ‘I’ll have the strudel, please.’ That’s neat! (5-3,5)
DOWN
1 Turn key on boat-raising enclosure (4) 2 It is just Mother, to a Frenchman (4) 3 A seat to put out on the driving-off ground (6) 4 Cards turned up in a very helpful way (6) 5 What are bolted up will stupefy one (4) 6 Air a different part of the opera (4) 9 Sledge includes a joke about travellers’ bags (7) 10 Greet, in confusion, a whole number (7) 11 A photograph of being wounded (4) 12 Twenty quires used to create a bigger bore (4) 13 Nubile islander may give one a flower garland (3) 15 Quickly go and pinch it (3) 17 Is able to copy something served with drinks (6) 18 Drink being laced, it was rejected by the editor (6) 19 It is right to take pie out when it’s ready for eating (4) 20 There is an absence of wind in medical matters (4) 21 A noble who is almost ahead of his time (4) 22 How to arrange tournament draw for one’s offspring (4)
QUICK CLUES ACROSS
7 A Government Minister (4,9) 8 A compulsion to steal things (11) 12 Treat to stories; give pleasure to (6) 14 A fillip on the nose; an informer (6) 16 Gum __________, a food thickener (6) 18 Vent-peg (6) 19 Takes into consideration again (11) 23 Perfect neatness (5-3,5)
DOWN
1 A ringlet of hair (4) 2 Just that, nothing more (4) 3 A long seat with a back (6) 4 Trusty fellows (6) 5 To daze (4) 6 A song in set form from opera (4) 9 Travelling-cases (7) 10 A whole number (7) 11 Wounded by gunfire (4) 12 A quantity of sheets of paper (4) 13 Hawaiian flower-garland (3) 15 Pinch (3) 17 A cocktail savoury (6) 18 Made gun ineffective (6) 19 Ready to eat (4) 20 Placid (4) 21 Nobleman below viscount (4)