Bold rogue returned with debts and after gold (9)
I believe the answer is:
audacious
'after gold' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are adjectives. Maybe there's an association between them I don't understand?
'bold rogue returned with debts' is the wordplay.
'bold' becomes 'au' (I can't justify this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'rogue' becomes 'cad' (I've seen this before).
'returned' says the letters should be written backwards.
'with' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'debts' becomes 'IOUs' (promises to pay debts).
'cad' in reverse letter order is 'dac'.
'au'+'dac'+'ious'='AUDACIOUS'
'and' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for audacious that I've seen before include "Brazen" , "Bold - impertinent" , "Intrepid" , "Recklessly bold" , "Recklessly daring" .)