Possible Clues:

• What a nuisance for the French to have to work with 9 across
• What a nuisance the French gets with mortar
• What a nuisance the French works with 9 across
• What a nuisance the French is with mortar
• Instrument for pounding spices etc
• The nuisance with the French for work in mortar
• Slept badly with drug and pounding instrument
• Grinder for mortar
• More tar, by the sound of it with it
• Spice crusher