The Hindu Crossword No. 2496 Sunday, August 10, 2008

Across

1 One who nicks metal? (6) COPPER

4 Crowns one with a vegetable? (8) CAPSICUM

10 And on came stupid comic, joke teller (5-2,8) STAND-UP COMEDIAN

11 House in city on the Lune (9) LANCASTER

12 Press in entrance hall (5) LOBBY

13 Pantomime character made merry (4) DUMB

14 Gambling game attended by Italian chap in Riviera resort (5,5) MONTE CARLO

18 One who can't take it? (10) NONDRINKER

19 Island, still English (4) BUTE

21 Provide witty remark after end of charade (5) EQUIP

23 Awfully smart, made capital (9) AMSTERDAM

24 One Columbian, one drunk on very rare occasions (4,2,1,4,4) ONCE IN A BLUE MOON

25 Climbing plant cute ape chewed up (5,3) SWEET PEA

26 B---- Brit? My word! (6) BLIMEY

Down

1 Keep hairy novel (6,9) CASTLE DANGEROUS

2 Schemes involving one servant, a person on the level? (9) PLAINSMAN

3 Win over intent listener (6) ENDEAR

5 Love affair starts to annoy most of us (5) AMOUR

6 Detective story by Haggard - left in lurch? (8) SHERLOCK

7 Cold, member making ascent (5) CLIMB

8 Song - `Three Coins .'? (5,5,5) MONEY MONEY MONEY

9 Points to broken cuspidor (8) SPITTOON

15 They must accommodate girl over in Greek region (8) THESSALY

16 Parasite, plump despicable person (9) ROUNDWORM

17 Monk in carriage tips rarely (8) TRAPPIST

20 Tell about meat (6) REVEAL

22 Pawnbroker has soiled article removed (5) UNCLE

23 Humiliate a foundation (5) ABASE