ACROSS 1 Improvises in jazz 6 Horse’s cousin 11 Blockhead 12 Fairy tale monsters 13 Poplar trees 5 Museum focus 16 King of France 17 Have debts 18 Put in other words 20 Clamor 21 Wisdom bringer 22 Let off steam 23 Soup server 26 Takes the bus 27 Lotion additive 28 “The Raven” writer 9 Yang’s counterpart 30 Dangerous apps 34 Lincoln nickname 35 Angled pipe 36 Sheep sound 37 Breakfast appliances 40 In the vicinity 41 Prod into action 42 Stories 43 Spirited horse DOWN 1 Parish leader 2 Find darling 3 Catchers’ needs 4 Cooking vessel 5 Closet use “Holy moly!” 7 Sense of self 8 Was in a funk 9 Merlot, e.g. 10 Concurs 14 Jot down 19 Story 22 Look upon 23 Purchase plan 24 Cave raider of story 25 Doomed 26 Jazz saxophonist Sonny 28 Washed out 30 Thaws 31 Dwelling 32 Mountain group 33 Moved slowly 38 Merriment 39 Deep groove