CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Ref’s glared, out to show a sort

of pride (4-6) 6 Almost disdain an incentive (4) 9 Gate at social function letting

number in (10) 10 Soon to get a refusal from

Paris? (4) 13 Deceived daughter escaped

cunningly (7) 15 US author in nasty situation

meeting our Queen (6) 16 Show company beginning to move after rest (6) 17 Ill health’s so sad, invalid being extremely ancient (2,3,2,3,5) 18 Old knight and fighting men

about to disembark (6) 20 Awful blunder, side having

dropped off package (6) 21 Some French group eating first

bit of rice pudding? (7) 22 About time to shut up (4) 25 I urge mater to sort out Daisy

maybe (10) 26 Piece of wood in panel at home

(4) 27 Work with newspaper folk I have

found to be burdensome (10)

DOWN 1 Close off an animal (4) 2 Departed well into the night (4) 3 One on errand for a strip of cloth (6) 4 What could upset gut as a rule — grand stuff full of sweetness (10,5) 5 Officer ultimately in charge of the fellow’s wealth (6) 7 Dispel a pain with a cold drink (4,6) 8 See me starring with a whip? (10) 11 The Conservative in a court case full of drama (10) 12 Female toilets please greatly with energy-saving form of illumination (10) 13 What may be demanded when maiden leaves, going nowhere (4-3) 14 This person had set up round of drinks to get deal (4,3) 19 Leave in the morning quietly after month (6) 20 Instructions for what to wear when it’s too hot for long johns? (6) 23 One not very bright turned up in a sort of skirt (4) 24 Lot heard making summer celebration (4)