Double Crossword

Cryptic puzzle

Across

3. Musicians using carthorse to get around (9)

8. Good penalty (4)

9. Spaceman out to roast a nut? (9)

10. Fur the Queen takes to the pit (6)

11. Ringers for beautiful girls, say? (5)

14. The almost complete unhappiness of a skinflint! (5)

15. Merit a vase, say (4)

16. Cathy’s new boat (5)

18. Drams - little ones! (4)

20. Angry indignation on the Cape (5)

21. Where the enemy comes from? (5)

24. I’m in no position to be a dependant (6)

25. Possibly isn’t a rich Gentile (9)

26. Calendar girl? (4)

27. Boy caught in the fruit machine (9)

Down

1. It follows trouble at the farm (9)

2. Hostility when I’m at noisy disturbance (9)

4. A trick sure to go wrong (4)

5. Do her characters constitute a crowd? (5)

6. 45 to 1 (6)

7. Overwhelming defeat disrupting tour (4)

9. Rang about the youthleader being cross (5)

11. Food brought home and saved? (5)

12. Wise series of novels about credit notes (9)

13. Fascinated for a spell (9)

17. I want about two (5)

19. Television programme from Israel? (6)

22. Run like a crowd scene participant? (5)

23. Inform on the store (4)

24. Spoil the first cherry brandy (4)

Quick puzzle

Across

3. Miser (9)

8. Manage (4)

9. Fickle (9)

10. Bumpy (6)

11. Avarice (5)

14. Put up (5)

15. Bring up (4)

16. Periods of 365 days (5)

18. Converse (4)

20. Iron (5)

21. Lax (5)

24. Fleeting look (6)

25. Incessant (9)

26. Pool of money (4)

27. Humiliating (9)

Down

1. Comply (9)

2. Transitory (9)

4. Enthusiastic (4)

5. More pleasant (5)

6. Pantry (6)

7. Approach (4)

9. Fleshy (5)

11. Elegance (5)

12. Bearing (9)

13. Increase in loudness (9)

17. Taper (5)

19. Walk unsteadily (6)

22. Church council (5)

23. Adore (4)

24. Profit (4)

Thursday’s solutions

CRYPTIC - Across: 1 Elba; 3 Passages; 8 Tear; 9 Wheelman; 11 Underwriting; 13 Erring; 14 Unpack; 17 Artillery-man; 20 Commando; 21 Pike; 22 Sinister; 23 Hemp.

Down: 1 Enthused; 2 Boarder; 4 Ashore; 5 Sweeteners; 6 Gamin; 7 Song; 10 Principals; 12 Skin-deep; 15 Armoire; 16 Pledge; 18 Roman; 19 Aces.

QUICK - Across: 1 Side; 3 Tangible; 8 Boil; 9 Carriage; 11 Indisputable; 13 Thesis; 14 Strewn; 17 Capitulation; 20 Readable; 21 Taxi; 22 Hostelry; 23 Thug.

Down: 1 Sobriety; 2 Dwindle; 4 Abacus; 5 Gargantuan; 6 Brawl; 7 Ewer; 10 Assimilate; 12 Unending; 15 Epitaph; 16 Butler; 18 Amass; 19 Arch.