Instructions: Guess the words defined by the cryptic clues (answers vary in length from four to eleven letters, and six are capitalized) then enter them in the grid one after another in the same order as their clues, starting in the upper left corner. Across words that don't end at the right continue on the next row, and down words that don't end at the bottom continue in the next column. Eleven across words and ten down words won't fit in the grid unless one of their letters is omitted. Those twenty-one letters, taken in order as they occur in across and down words, spell a seven-word message related to the mystery entry. Thanks to Kevin Wald for test-solving and editing this puzzle. (If you are having trouble printing these puzzles, you can download an Adobe Acrobat version of the puzzle and grid).

1. Mystery entry
2. Rude ad men—rude beyond what can be imagined
3. Ranting about no coming back after leaving
4. Verdi's aborted excursion
5. Persuade one confounded dunce
6. And in France you finally get one case
7. Deliver molten lead
8. Stop Holbrook, at last
9. Flower never gets started in back
10. Got a motto about packaging plant
11. Mad Jordie carries club in driving caper
12. Tatum returned in control to learn a new skill
13. Cooking no-no includes one Allium plant
14. Approach outside of new car
15. Hard-working princess gets excited tingle
16. Answer choice is partially misconstrued
17. Invited a deb to party
18. Very short implement
19. Woman only covers up later
20. Comedian of year bombed
21. Look back and stagger
22. Less weighty volume
23. Announced composer's name

1. Basic, mundane flat refurbished
2. Pig, e.g., and gnu turned up dead
3. Sensitive body part with nothing to smile about
4. Certified teacher in entranceway is a medical professional
5. Lank, non German relative
6. A nurse accompanies English composer
7. Open a container
8. The reverend hiding at this place
9. I'm doused somehow like a jelly fish
10. Inhumanity of two drinking establishments and faceless city
11. Tooth preparation of porcelain layers
12. Turning faint and, uh, dank
13. Consequently ogre retreated
14. Name each concept
15. Lap leader veering off and lifting
16. Swiss painter participates in vernissage
17. Rude Andy embraces faculty chief
18. Edited, regulated, and limited intake of food
19. Earth in broken-down silo
20. A Van Gogh in the Orient
21. Endless carol?
22. Cheap gambler hijacked in north
23. Stolen tin-free metal ware