DOUBLE CROSSWORD

CRYPTIC CLUES:

Across

1. See 7 Down 3. Matters under discussion for those paying allegiance (8) 8. Name the chap at home embracing Virginia (4) 9. What the fiddler's doing for dancing! (8) 11. They provide relief for map readers (7,5) 13. A sign of promotion for the priest, maybe (6) 14. How to lose weight fast! (6) 17. Brave an unpleasant situation, as conductors do (4,3,5) 20. Mysterious coteries broken up (8) 21. A little pest to escape from, we

hear (4) 22. Strange secrets about the first

of the phantom spirits (8) 23 & 19Dn. Get up earlier, being

unable to settle (8)

Down

1. Royal title incorporated in the newspapers (8) 2. Bridge-making tool (7) 4. Heedless of a deviation in the runway (6) 5. Precisely on the beat without a minute to spare (4,2,4) 6. In which I'd expect to be reproachful (5) 7 & 1Ac. It indicates the way to end

off the letters (8) 10. It sounds like a word of praise for all the ship's crew (10) 12. A special aptitude is required to write church music (8) 15. Decide to work out the puzzle again (7) 16. Transport that keeps one in the hunt (6) 18. Make some reparation soon after midnight? (5) 19. See 23 Across

QUICK CLUES: Across

1. Snare (4) 3. Tale (8) 8. Rant (4) 9. Move (8) 11. Excessive (12) 13. Handy (6) 14. Weak (6) 17. Ugly (12) 20. Likely (8) 21. Food (4) 22. Mercy (8) 23. Mine entrance (4)

Down

1. Devious (8) 2. Unfavourable (7) 4. Strait (6) 5. Recover (10) 6. Rubbish (5) 7. Merit (4) 10. Parapet (10) 12. Intense (8) 15. Bandit (7) 16. Gambol (6) 18. Loop (5) 19. Heroic (4)