Cryptic crossword

ACROSS

1. Note: reeve’s mate may sound abrupt (5) 4. Such shortened books as one assimilates (7) 8. Prevent half of vest appearing in painting (5) 9. Drink may be taken from one seen in circus (7) 10. Was a swindler, either way (3) 11. It is very, very good to do better than others fast (9) 12. Female it is difficult to find, street tricksters show (4) 13. Get gear together in Madame’s haberdashery (4) 18. Stationed and beat the game (9) 20. Bottle-top may be a little, explosive thing (3) 21. Dodgy escape by woman is no different ... (7) 22. ... as she makes one cry for her to return (5) 23. Hair lady teachers have finished with? (7) 24. A piece of paper he found in the collection (5)

DOWN

1. Being so bombastic might make lodger quit Ann (13) 2. To hang as in balance, in due confusion, turned it over (7) 3. It shackles one who could be free without an abstainer (6) 4. Go in for take-off? (6) 5. To find heartless crowd in a high wind is a bit of a risk (6) 6. Work it out: there’s about five fish (5) 7. To make concessions might put Dot on the rack (7,1,5) 14. Topless men get by to put one inside (7) 15. Looks hard, one hears, at the case (6) 16. Stung somehow: that’s about right, as one sounds piggish (6) 17. A party it’s wrong to return to for one so handsome (6) 19. A thing that’s left behind at sea when not slumbering? (5)