CRYPTIC CLUES

ACROSS

8 Thread taken in by many Londoners (5) 9 Returning once more with artist to river (7) 10 They take charge temporarily, regarding men’s toilet (7) 11 Fail, perhaps, absorbing nitrogen last (5) 12 What London cabbies have learnt! (9) 14 Owned shadowy part (3)

15 Expected overnight condensation, we hear (3) 16 Minster, eg, rebuilt for army units (9) 19 Snoops in casinos, essentially (5)

21 Meet lively fist, say (7)

23 Charm with different bugle, ie (7)

24 Object virtually sedate (5) DOWN 1 A girl on end of deck in waterproof jacket (6)

2 Standard post? (8)

3 Soon producing a foreign refusal (4)

4 One in France exploited mint (6) 5 Children’s holiday left out amid hurt (4-4) 6 Deserve a vase, reportedly (4)

7 Rang everyone taken in by last month’s upturn (6) 13 Hold ‘Sir’ out for page as noble title (8) 14 Worker several find good-looking (8) 15 Notes about a substance from river (6) 17 Turn on charm, almost, and that’s the truth (6) 18 Those who speak of a crime novelist? (6) 20 Put one’s name: Leo? (4)

22 Last ones in, except Henri, consumed whisky neat (4)