Double Crossword

Choice of cryptic or quick puzzle, and (just in case you’ve been wracking your brains) yesterday’s solutions.

Cryptic puzzle

Across

1. Remove obscurity from the screen (6)

4. Recruits for strange sect about the present time (6)

9. Certainly not descriptive of the hard core! (6-7)

10. No finer translation of part of the Divine Comedy (7)

11. The strain associated with someone’s departure (5)

12. First to activate the pump (5)

14. Take a quick shot at a woodcock (5)

18. In the pictures he enriches a certain lustre (5)

19. Leafy place at the back of Hindhead produces a haven (7)

21. Machinery essential for the bookmaker! (8-5)

22. Labelled as an unusual gadget (6)

23. Part of a typewriter to cover with thin metal bearing (6)

Down

1. Military group particular people go into (6)

2. Cattle raiser is a cultured type (3,2,8)

3. In the courts we are to make a definite assertion (5)

5. Forsake uncontrolled behaviour (7)

6. Become a candidate for a professional examination, but put in an objection (5,1,7)

7. Rushes the southern borders (6)

8. The endless noise made by the cast (5)

13. Chap gets something for driving off a water mammal (7)

15. The tip has become a place under fire (3-3)

16. By-pass closed about mid-morning (5)

17. Coming from the rector is one prayer (6)

20. Drive away when some of the male personnel turned up (5)

Quick puzzle

Across

1. Lying face upwards (6)

4. Shut (6)

9. Dull (13)

10. Disgrace (7)

11. Stroke of luck (5)

12. Condescend (5)

14. Dish (5)

18. Laconic (5)

19. Comfort (7)

21. Impossible (13)

22. Surpass (6)

23. Fault (6)

Down

1. Crush (6)

2. Charitable (13)

3. Eminent (5)

5. Lascivious (7)

6. Agitate (4,2,7)

7. Excavator (6)

8. Genuinely (5)

13. Work (7)

15. Clothing (6)

16. Sharp (5)

17. Pick (6)

20. Recess (5)

Friday’s solutions

CRYPTIC

Across: 4 Asinine; 8 Ritual; 9 Contact; 10 Lumber; 11 Lichen; 12 Tentacle; 18 Viscount; 20 Sonata; 21 Misses; 22 Prussia; 23 Legate; 24 Betters Down: 1 Prelate; 2 Stamina; 3 Camera; 5 Spotless; 6 Notice; 7 Nickel; 13 Cavalier; 14 Russian; 15 Stashes; 16 Course; 17 Basset; 19 Chides

QUICK

Across: 4 Skilful; 8 Uneven; 9 Bravery; 10 Superb; 11 Single; 12 Disclose; 18 Specious; 20 Arrest; 21 Impose; 22 Infancy; 23 Oodles; 24 Shatter Down: 1 Subsidy; 2 Despise; 3 Petrol; 5 Kerosene; 6 Loving; 7 Unruly; 13 Obstacle; 14 Monocle; 15 Asperse; 16 Drench; 17 Depart; 19 Common