CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

4 Rodents having a name for spitefulness (6) 7 Where to make honourable love to a girl (8) 8 Sissy’s room for the weekend (6)

10 To fall over him could be fatal (5)

13 Had to go out East with the boss (4)

14 Finish with some skill (4) 15 The sheer size of the master’s swollen head (4) 16 Could it give you a bit of a fright on the road? (3) 17 Start by being honest (4) 19 Mark’s dog? (4)

21 Not one in a hundred, strangely, could be a Parliamentarian! (9)

23 Go on the rota (4) 24 Handiest of tube stations (4)

26 Could you call one a mini? (3)

27 He may have a chapter to himself (4)

29 Could you credit a sailor catching one? (4)

32 One on the flighty side? (4) 33 Prop up a broken-down horse (5) 34 Discreditable charges? (6) 35 Was this style of bowling such sweat? (8)

36 Gets upset about half the food being starchy stuff (6)

DOWN

1 Informal girl, very stylish, at the King’s Head (5) 2 Smith’s property under the hammer? (5)

3 In music, does it mean you’ve left three notes out? (4)

4 Divine females get some of you in a terrible mess (5) 5 Prepare to shoot what may be shot (4)

6 Cried sadly upon finishing last, would you believe? (6) 9 More than one permit is acceptable (6) 11 Fifty-one pence? What cheek! (3) 12 Basically, the shop has one (5)

13 A womanly weapon (7) 15 Old boys of the same name (3)

16 A famous sculptor took him in (3)

18 Know-all put out about the terrible din (6)

20 A little area for a quiet chat, maybe (5)

21 A letter from Ruby at the massage parlour? (3) 22 She’s the party type (3) 23 Latent flair? (6)

25 A long way to rise in the air force (3)

28 Follow in a manner almost unseen (5) 30 Nonsense like duty lists (5) 31 Looks delighted at the strong support (5)

32 It can be quite a blow (4) 33 The woman had been dropped (4)