Perplexity

Mixed Doubles

Metal weal densely clotted ale men.

The above sentence hides three related one-word answers. To find them, you must group the six words into pairs, then rearrange the letters within each pair.

A copy of the Larousse Desk Reference Encyclopedia will be awarded to the sender of the first correct entry opened on 12 September. Entries to: Saturday Pastimes, the Independent, 1 Canada Square, Canary Wharf, London E14 5DL.

17 August answer:

S (last letters of words in sentence asking the question)

H (1ST, 2ND, 3RD, 4TH)

X (Letters of "Perplexity" arranged in alphabetical order).

Winner: LE Paterson (Edinburgh).