Two-speed coffeebreak

Two sets of clues – but the answers are the same.

Cryptic clues ACROSS

3 Friend takes in European show (7) 7 Beginning old equipment at home (6) 8 Gave professor wrong date (7) 9 Melanie has style (4) 11 Forest contains raw materials (4) 12 Instrument to fix stair (5) 15 Meagre sort of hint (4) 16 Line travelled by river (4) 17 Communication from a mile away (1-4) 18 Contemporary with part-timer (4) 19 Conceal the skin (4) 21 Implement often found in the works! (7) 22 Peter managed with acceptable name (6) 23 Removes notes on steel production (7)

DOWN

1 Rubbish on a list (4) 2 Serbia confused with one part of Russia (7) 3 King upsetting maids (5) 4 Soon get a French veto (4) 5 Thought I would get enigma solved (8) 6 Last to finish by river (6) 10 Soviet ruler keeps eastern church in clemency (8) 11 Old husband got married with some resistance (3) 13 Break from prisoner’s release (4,3)

14 A record peak (3) 15 Tightened end and set off (6)

18 Rites used flags (5) 19 Present during the recording (4)

20 Part of the

elephant’s foot (4)

Quick clues ACROSS

3 Afternoon performance (7) 7 Source (6) 8 Gave to charity (7) 9 Panache (4) 11 Minerals (4) 12 Indian ‘guitar’? (5) 15 Slender (4) 16 African river (4) 17 Electronic message (1-4) 18 Office worker (4) 19 Secrete (4) 21 Hand tool (7) 22 Social standing (6) 23 Crosses out (7)

DOWN

1 Schedule (4) 2 Russian province (7) 3 Mythical ruler (5) 4 Unknown (4) 5 Dreamt (8) 6 Survive (6) 10 Merciful quality (8)

11 Unit of resistance (3) 13 Brief pause (4,3) 14 Mountain (3) 15 Tautened (6) 18 Wearies (5)

19 In this place (4) 20 Stiletto, eg (4)

Solutions in tomorrow’s Daily Mirror