daily double

the hard way

ACROSS 1 Live fast (5) 8 Knock Jack down; he’s a loafer (8) 9 In skill the French sentry should be (5) 10 Farewell to an Inca ruin in Spanish port (8) 11 Join in a very loud Latin number (5) 12 Observe the bishop’s concern (3) 16 The length an association will go to? (6) 17 Assembling a steel plant (6) 18 Meal where gateaux form the centrepiece (3) 23 One is vertical in flight (5) 24 Mean by various means to obtain some cheese (8) 25 Leading chess player (5) 26 Kept quiet (8) 27 Short sergeant-major; nothing but petty (5)

DOWN 2 Elated having got promoted (8) 3 Deportment of unusual air and grace (8) 4 It holds wine for a service in church (6) 5 Melba cocktail for the lady (5) 6 Speak evil about none (5) 7 Collected maps of African mountains (5) 12 Hard to place (3) 13 A Greek character had food sent up (3) 14 Amateur bandsman? (5,3) 15 You’ll find the answer at the foot of the column (8) 19 A shiny top coat (6) 20 Musical work taking a long time to produce (5) 21 Short encounter results in the end of a fox (5) 22 Long tale about the east (5)

the easy way

ACROSS 1 Lively (5) 8 Idle pleasure seeker (8) 9 Up to the time that (5) 10 Feel tense and restless (2,2,4) 11 Temperamental (5) 12 Write hurriedly (3) 16 Motion pictures (6) 17 Expenditure (6) 18 A laurel (3) 23 Sound harshly (5) 24 A helpful kindness (4,4) 25 Important (5) 26 Not to mention (3,5) 27 Consider in detail (5)

DOWN 2 To attempt to escape (3,3,2) 3 Superficial (4-4) 4 Manage with what’s available (4,2) 5 Intimidate (5) 6 Sycophant (5) 7 Exorbitant (5) 12 Short boxing punch (3) 13 Plaything (3) 14 Leading role in play (4,4) 15 The ultimate in current fashion (4,4) 19 An exposure to public debate (6) 20 Nimble (5) 21 Merit (5) 22 Play for time (5)