CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Send out of French harbour (6)

4. They provide flashy evidence of friction (6)

9. Request to the waiter for dessert, all neat and tidy! (5-3,5)

10. Rushing stream split the hill first (7)

11. Describing the examination candidate in ill-humour (5)

12. Operate on a joint (5)

14. A criminal staff that’s bent (5) 18. Play-fellow (5)

19. Sounds like a private bitterness that’s harboured (7)

21. The time it takes for illfeeling to be removed (13)

22. One in a group of politicians showing equality of status (6)

23. Service for a light meal (3-3)

DOWN

1. Famine – only five hundred found on the planet (6)

2. This will prevent the sheets from getting awry (5-8)

3. The steward will produce a piece of free verse (5)

5. A conspirator who follows the flight of the plane (7)

6. Goes to the dogs? (5,2,6)

7. Street beams will reveal lost children (6)

8. Intimations of strikes round the north (5)

13. Virginia train differing from the usual type! (7)

15. He’s rash enough to have crazy headgear (6)

16. In a position to defend oneself from a bad dream (5)

17. Passionate study in painting (6)

20. As part of a vacation I cherish the recess (5)