Double Crossword

Cryptic puzzle

Across

4. A supporter thus returning to the purpose (7)

8. Sent one way so as to be utterly defeated (6)

9. Refuse to deal with abstainer joining firm after youth (7)

10. Impose changes in a let (6)

11. He has taken to flight (6)

12. Leaving out ring to embassy (8)

18. They will presumably croak at a later stage (8)

20. Contrivance for getting rid of wickedness? (6)

21. Leave stranded and in the red? (6)

22. Claimed physical examination (7)

23. Agree current yield (6)

24. Insults illumination in ship (7)

Down

1. More fed in liberty (7)

2. Cut short what dog wags? (7)

3. Careless about failure to hit target (6)

5. Desecrated when drop-out went round temple (8)

6. Happens to be officer commanding dogs (6)

7. Stayed in bed longer at some cost (6)

13. Train, etc., to work on each other (8)

14. Produce a flower as the result of a stupid mistake? (7)

15. Split apart like below (7)

16. Sound the bells again to show annulment (6)

17. Keeping beating a secret? (6)

19. One in position to obtain fish (6)

Quick puzzle

Across

4. Ameliorate (7)

8. Exact illegally (6)

9. Endurance (7)

10. Snare (6)

11. Idea (6)

12. Fickle (8)

18. Absurd (8)

20. Hardship (6)

21. Voting (6)

22. Erased (7)

23. Vilify (6)

24. By now (7)

Down

1. Accept (7)

2. Man’s height (7)

3. Mistakes (6)

5. Rebel (8)

6. Far-off (6)

7. Seller (6)

13. Give favour to (8)

14. Applaud (7)

15. Jumble (7)

16. Headstrong (6)

17. Comfort (6)

19. Holiday home (6)

Wednesday’s solutions

CRYPTIC

Across: 1 Special case; 9 Pen; 10 Embarrass; 11 Right; 13 Scourge; 14 Trains; 16 Intact; 18 Old maid; 19 Crest; 20 At one time; 21 Coo; 22 Heated words.

Down: 2 Pin; 3 Cheat; 4 Ambush; 5 Cartoon; 6 Staircase; 7 Operational; 8 Ostentation; 12 Grandiose; 15 Nearest; 17 Eddied; 19 Credo; 21 Cod.

QUICK

Across: 1 Manufacture; 9 Apt; 10 Derringer; 11 Twice; 13 Awkward; 14 Canopy; 16 Heroic; 18 Parvenu; 19 Meets; 20 Tenseness; 21 Boo; 22 Reverberate.

Down: 2 Act; 3 Undue; 4 Abroad; 5 Trickle; 6 Rigmarole; 7 Participate; 8 Predecessor; 12 Ignorance; 15 Precede; 17 Superb; 19 Miser; 21 Bit.