DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES: Across 4 & 22Ac. They produce vegetables for red-faced athletes (7,7) 8 & 11Ac. No drone would qualify for this simile! (2,4,2,1,3) 9. Crooked dealing

straightened out (7) 10. One could make light of this box (6) 11. See 8 Across 12. Kind of paper associated

with numskulls! (8) 18. Be coercive and bring the

police into operation (3,5) 20. Ceremonial trial rearranged about the middle of January (6) 21. This controls the current

changeover (6) 22. See 4 Across 23. Stealthily take one's leave

of French settlement (6) 24. In glad or in gloomy loving

(7)

Down

1. Growler makes mother set in the joints (7) 2. Leave an orchestra occupying the stage (7) 3. See 16 Down 5. Fall caused by slip at the end of the mountain pass (8) 6. The chap at the students' fete appearing as a scrap merchant (6) 7. One and one (6) 13. Just the vessel for a witch's

brew (8) 14. This will cut timber from

the far west (4,3) 15. Unusual phrase about the beginning of the Prologue, maybe (7) 16 & 3Dn. Could the contents of the wine cellar be so described? (6,6) 17. The lathe operator is an

artist (6) 19. Flora's associate, we hear,

is a sycophant (6) QUICK CLUES: Across 4. Poise (7) 8. Deep-set (6) 9. Insult (7) 10. To moderate (6) 11. Unequalled (6) 12. Finish (8) 18. In rags (8) 20. Zodiac sign (6) 21. Maiden (6) 22. Hearty (7) 23. Oppose (6) 24. Encourage (7) Down 1. Defend (7) 2. Anguish (7) 3. Disclose (6) 5. Wealthy (8) 6. Alarmed (6) 7. Agree (6) 13. Last (8) 14. Dull (7) 15. Flatter (7) 16. Reduce in rank (6) 17. Slag (6) 19. Journey (6)