Number of stars paid, else furious! (8)

I believe the answer is:

pleiades

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'number of stars' is the definition.
'pleiades' can be an answer for 'stars' (I've seen this before). I'm not certain of the 'number of' bit.

'paid else furious' is the wordplay.
'furious' indicates an anagram.
'paid'+'else'='paidelse'
'paidelse' anagrammed gives 'PLEIADES'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for pleiades that I've seen before include "Prominent star group" , "Group of sisters" , "Conspicuous star cluster in Taurus" , "they're in the Bull" , "Prominent star cluster" .)

I've seen this clue in The Telegraph.

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