CRYPTIC QUICK

1. Concentrate with various composers, having nothing to lose (8)

4. A woman’s holding one successor (4)

8. For the present it has gained a reverse (3)

9. I’m given a turn at the last stage of an insect’s life (5)

10. One’s purpose is to get somebody in one’s sights (3)

11. Study sure is backward with a friend around (7)

12. The cards that are taken by stratagem (5)

13. Mentally 16, one may be telling ten about it (11)

17. A bird we have put back in the mine (5)

18. *}&[\X YX } = ' Q'{\ >; Y\* ^ hat (7)

20. Small deer that came back from the orient (3)

21. Nothing is as it should be in a place of rest (5)

22. A slovenly woman one will claim for oneself (3)

23. Still, it is equally balanced (4)

24. Sorry for what one did to pet in net maybe (8)

DOWN

1. An entry in replica of the top level of the forest (6)

Across

1. Bellow (4)

4. Tastelessly showy (6)

8. Type of rice (7)

9. Verdant (5)

10. Spurn (4)

11. Footpath (8)

13. Convenient but improper (9)

17. Quick check of something (4-4)

19. Region (4)

21. Lacking freshness (5)

22. Search haphazardly (7)

23. Group of seven (6)

24. Departed (4)

2. First earth worm to be chopped up by grass cutter (5)

3. The car will stop running, so play for time (5)

5. The dodging of vase thrown at one on the end (7)

6. !'^ ]'*Y>&; &{ Q} about a mere king (6)

7. It is touching the company gun is out to get (10)

9. Examination of pension,

Down

2. Vague (7)

3. Burden (4)

4. [ '* >; Y\&> Q manner (4,3,4,2)

5. Thankful (8)

6. Card suit (5)

7. Liquidy lumps in the body (5)

8. Shrub (4)

12. Adversary (8)

14. Landscape (7)

15. Brag (5)

16. Naked (4)

18. Pursue (5)

20. 'Q{ Y \>Y '< it may be, when about a hundred (10)

14. Comes so unplaced when 20 gets confused (7)

15. Might have to re-pass, but there’s not much to it (6)

16. 13 is shining (6)

18. Do some tacking, and beat it (5)

19. Soundboard of violin to put forward for discussion (5)