Tls 1552

[BIll]

Last one and I'd be grateful for confirmation. 18a. More like Eliot's banker's fine defeat? That's right (8). FLASHIER: F(ine) LASH (defeat) IE (That is) R(ight), and reference to Bulstrode in Middlemarch. But lash meaning defeat? What am I missing?

[Neveracrossword]

Flossier, with Eliot being The Mill On The Floss, and Loss being defeat?

[BIll]

That's better! Many thanks. Silly me. I was stuck to banker finance not river

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, BIll, sometimes a fresh pair of eyes is all that's needed!

[elliemay1]

Well done NAC, very clever!

[Neveracrossword]

Elliemay1, thanks. I quite like looking at clues for puzzles that I don't normally tackle.