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. Give an account of rice beds, perhaps (8)

5. Stylish like some French ices (4)

9. Silver artist in India (4)

10. Fish straying out (8)

11. Another name for a sail that’s put around (5)

12. One who prefers the cream? (7)

13. Daffodils and tulips jumping out of bed? (6,7)

18. Possibly metering the soldiers (8)

19. Spreading like wildfire? (4)

20. Former husband a metre out from the furthest point (7)

21. Killed and cooked snail (5)

22. Playwright having to wash up (4)

23. Striving snake I telephone (8)

Down

2. Urge to throw a drink (7)

3. Indian food a man has at one (7)

4. Careless sandwich-maker? (13)

6. Possibly hire one female character (7)

7. Yes coot can be exchanged for prairie wolves (7)

8. Fashionable girl has to leave one colour (6)

13. Shows or hides (7)

14. Great trouble for the soldiers at Cowes? (7)

15. Figure it’s less sensitive (6)

16. Bird that is an awful brawler (7)

17. Rowdy disrupting the funfair (7)

Quick puzzle

Across

1. Abdicate (4,4)

5. Side (4)

9. Stinging insect (4)

10. Long-necked animals (8)

11. Fruit (5)

12. Blow up (7)

13. The masons, for example (6,7)

18. Without equal (8)

19. Flat-bottomed boat (4)

20. Performer (7)

21. Stiff (5)

22. Paddles (4)

23. Status (8)

Down

2. Trudge (7)

3. Well-liked (7)

4. Very pale (5,2,1,5)

6. Ensure observance of (7)

7. Enigma (7)

8. French (6)

13. Opera singer (7)

14. Maker (7)

15. Join up (6)

16. Unstated (7)

17. Strain (7)

Monday’s solutions

Cryptic: 1 Tester; 4 Viewer; 9 Exaggerations; 10 Shivers; 11 Negus; 12 Gnome; 14 Heats; 18 Roans; 19 Hapless; 21 Puts on one side; 22 Perish; 23 Knight. Down: 1 Theism; 2 Station-master; 3 Eagle; 5 Intense; 6 Wool-gathering; 7 Resist; 8 Crush; 13 Mascots; 15 Wrap up; 16 Throw; 17 Ascent; 20 Paean.

QUICK

Across: 1 Recess; 4 Schism; 9 Centre-forward; 10 Strange; 11 Apple; 12 Stick; 14 Devon; 18 Allot; 19 Admirer; 21 Extraordinary; 22 Rudder; 23 Demean. Down: 1 Racist; 2 Congratulated; 3 Siren; 5 Corsage; 6 Inappropriate; 7 Midges; 8 Often; 13 Cottage; 15 Career; 16 Parry; 17 Crayon; 20 Maize.