CRYP TIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Diplomat’s mother backing

singer on road upset (10) 6 Pole free? Almost (4) 9 Advertise opening

of tapas bar (5) 10 Handicap: a golfing term (9) 12 Factor in a small amount (7) 13 Splendid inside

picture gallery (5) 15 Horse, calm before

short session (7) 17 Young animal always

allowed outside (7) 19 Popular firm close to another

one providing protection (7) 21 Subject to work experience (7) 22 Eastern lake’s not natural (5) 24 Time to face reprimand,

about to cry (7) 27 Legendary beauty

broken man adored (9) 28 Ring any number in locality (5) 29 The last word from leader of

Assamese soldiers, … (4) 30 … enlisted soldiers from

separate castes (5,5) DOWN 1 Singer in rehearsal, tone-deaf (4) 2 Be grateful for securing weak upright (9) 3 Work out alone around five (5) 4 A subtly different mature ham (7) 5 Examination involving segment of a ring road? (7) 7 Point in river offensive smell has enveloped (5) 8 Formal proposal about compound (10) 11 Half of them playing Verdi did well (7) 14 Wants information about English team, first in race (10) 16 Danger at sea — opted out, or in? (7) 18 Member of the clergy and a ruler abroad (5,4) 20 Take flight in retirement (7) 21 Oblivious, a female in Paris about a state of conflict (7) 23 Escarpment, cold place once Fahrenheit’s dropped (5) 25 Learner in market showing natural ability (5) 26 The old lady’s small service (4)