daily double

the hard way

ACROSS 1 City which captivated Helen (5) 8 Breach copyright for example of refining process (8) 9 Destroy note written in Gaelic (5) 10 Managed to find time which suited nicely (6,2) 11 A custom that makes us grow old (5) 12 Settle back and talk a lot (3) 16 Give a plain description of French capital (6) 17 Having gone off thoroughly confused (6) 18 Make an effort to hear (3) 23 Salary increased to get out of debt (3,2) 24 Words in action? (8) 25 A reduction by a quarter is severe (5) 26 The principle of no credit (8) 27 Way-out ideas are not to be considered (5)

DOWN 2 Stayed in custody (8) 3 Status symbols? (8) 4 An alcoholic drink leads to a complaint (6) 5 Muse to appear after a very long time (5) 6 A poem of positive significance (5) 7 Indicates way of getting funds (5) 12 Catch or catch on (3) 13 Sadly robbed of 500 pounds as an estimate (3) 14 Overtures returned with interest? (8) 15 Leave in a rush having been recompensed (8) 19 Make phone call about an account - for betting? (6) 20 Prepared to study at the end of the day (5) 21 Roadside dump (5) 22 Man with the knack of showing compassion (5)

the easy way

ACROSS 1 Disgrace (5) 8 Be humiliated (4,4) 9 Particular bias (5) 10 Essentially basic (2-6) 11 Snow-block dwelling (5) 12 Unsubtle actor (3) 16 Comfort in sorrow (6) 17 Obstreperous (6) 18 Facetious person (3) 23 East African country (5) 24 Drawn from actual events (4-4) 25 Ethical (5) 26 Stop what one is doing (4,2,2) 27 Nervous excitement (5)

DOWN 2 Be valid (4,4) 3 Openly and honestly (3,2,3) 4 Ring of light around sun (6) 5 Belittle (5) 6 Ill (5) 7 Brutal person (5) 12 Chop with axe (3) 13 Attack with intent to rob (3) 14 Sweetheart (4-4) 15 Avoid taking risks (4,4) 19 Concern (6) 20 Feel about blindly (5) 21 An unexpected drawback (5) 22 Constantly changing (5)