CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. One left first, followed by a rich heiress (6) 5. Girl consuming second course of meal? (8) 9. Quirk a woman originally uncovered in an arboreal mammal (8) 10. Girl takes exercise, carrying house keys (6) 11. Direct nonsense written about rejected payment (6) 12. Unbalanced lord accepting work with team (8) 14. Jazzman finally spending money on band’s development (5,7) 17. Senior diplomat taking a shift with a male singer? (12) 20. Borrow book on Ravel, good in translation (8) 22. See very old city hospital protected by barrier (6) 23. Bumbling old fellow putting a gloss on things? (6) 25. Arsenal player initially performing in tired environment (8) 26. Passion unknown by a woman like Erica? (8) 27. Infusion one’s served in lightish brown earthenware, primarily (6)

DOWN

2. Prayer old teacher offered up before broadcasting (6) 3. Consider fashion, following posh medic, and show resentment (4,7) 4. CO’s assistants adapt, releasing direction over soldiers? (9) 5. Blowing in gusts, just as European leaves for south (7) 6. Absorb work in month at university (3,2) 7. See about beginning to erect sign (3) 8. Possibly count on rising bachelor needing lover once (8) 13. Diligent Brahmans maybe leaving hotel, united in small groups? (11) 15. Excessively stupid, entertaining Republican’s arrangement with bank (9) 16. A rum time, unfortunately, to be wet behind the ears (8) 18. Cross about article blocking extremely windy entrance (7) 19. Unproductive 8, by the sound of it? (6) 21. Regularly grow rushes and furze (5) 24. Attack section of ancient poem (3)