The Brain Teaser

No. 8,567

ACROSS

1. Does it ensure a smooth start to the weekend? (6,7)

8. Be afraid to hold the pen? (7)

9. Furious about a note poking fun at one (7)

11. Where a worm won't want to be shut up (6)

13. “I'm going to stand this round” gets abuse (3-5)

15. Many compositions are intended to be unintelligible (5)

16. Batting and nervous, but great (7)

18. Refined and courteous with the mermaid, is he? (7)

19. He'll have a day on the river (5)

21. He's sent the girl, within a year, crazy (8)

23. Looks after the said keys, also (4,2)

25. Very good, when spread out, to help conceal the gap (3-4)

26. Isn't bothered by the little creature for a moment (7)

28. Are they angry at being trampled on? (6,2,5)

DOWN

2. How, when the wild-cat came through, the nervous deer responded? (7)

3. The money spoken of is a single note (3)

4. No right to put in a made-up story (4)

5. A minute is not much (4,6)

6. The man, we're told, is dark (5)

7. In the event, I perhaps show a gullibility (7)

8. Remarking that someone's pretty? (4,7)

10. Tackle the job in the basement? (3,4,2,2)

12. Is, in rental, fifty per cent up (5)

14. Tell you what to do to please the salesman (4,6)

17. Steel myself? The cheek! (5)

18. The claw is on the wrong end, Jack (7)

20. As the non-angling actor was, or did, as the fisherman? (7)

22. The water's rising in the boat (5)

24. It's turned up full volume; that's the difference (4)

27. Say me to him when out with “21” (3)