CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Accept a token in new deal (4,2) 4 Little reptile exploits

flowering plants (8) 9 Make reference, as man

getting audibly vulgar (6) 10 Always you must keep on

— not just some of you! (8) 11 As Soviet official,

I’m cross, am mad (9) 13 Excellent department

led by ace (5) 14 A live gent’s let loose,

a gospel preacher (13) 17 Doctor on visit — severe

and a bit too touchy? (13) 21 Cardinal providing article

about Religious Education (5) 23 Bitterness showing by those with aspiration heading off, quick movers (9) 24 Have a hand in genuine

action to cancel debt? (8) 25 One form of music and another making comeback with time (6) 26 Rat in dry zone here

shedding skin (8) 27 1 Across funny

old comedian (6)

DOWN

1 Time young birds may be found in straw etc (6) 2 Tricky mile trek including middle of bog? A shorter distance (9) 3 What was paid off long ago in coppers? (3,4) 5 Girl given payment in beastly home, brought up to be respectful (11) 6 Business of transporting stuff — hard to get out of old African capital (7) 7 Number in double figures to achieve success (5) 8 Attend match, say, in which

muscle is evident (8) 12 Economy good with people showing a redeeming quality (6,5) 15 Alien gent, frightfully

lacking in refinement (9) 16 Harry and Edward

tinkered about (8) 18 The female subsequently

lacking a sanctuary (7) 19 One thus tardy is to get

set apart from others (7) 20 Oriental dropping off at

the front gets behind (6) 22 Frolics of old politicians undermining Speaker ultimately (5)