CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Part of dress old boy returns to chop up (6)

4. Yacht may be under what painter is working on (6)

9. Fish any church can get half-over (7)

10. It was a swain with a hey-nonny of fifty and more (5)

11. At ten cents for a dozen, it’s commonplace (4)

12. It takes courage to grind one’s teeth (4)

13. Brown will go after those who owe money (3)

15. Vegetable on sheltered side at top of kitchen-garden (4)

16. Claim Vera could make it (4)

19. Particle that’s charged in with nothing in the middle (3)

21. They slither out of the creel, sometimes (4)

22. At this time the match is over and one can take no more (4)

24. It’s alternative to a part of a path in space (5)

25. Make one happy to put it on in the valley (7)

26. One increases the ranks of the dandies (6)

27. Interfere with a gong, by the sound of it (6)

DOWN

1. With these, the mark of the beast is imposed (8-5)

2. System of counting mice lad worked out (7)

3. Rider may take one in hand for a close cut (4)

5. Grammatical case got from table, via alteration (8)

6. Six repeatedly find the day brilliant (5)

7. When a young man’s fancy turns to poise, it weighs (6,7)

8. Third gift my king takes with right hand (5)

14. Base on which one may be idolised (8)

17. Curvaceous as nude can be in a perch (7)

18. Gets weary of irises (5)

20. An old coin for the lofty-minded (5)

23. Cost of travel (and food) (4) YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Gambling 7. Basal 8. Nursing 9. Gravity 10. Ewes

12. Dossier 14. Hurtled 17. Vane 18. Pontoon 21. Carbine

22. Earls 23. Premises

Down: 1. Gander 2. Murderer 3. Laid 4. Nagged 5. Asti

6. Player 7. Braised 11. Billows 13. Invalids 14. Hopper

15. Dancer 16. Recess 19. Nark 20. Grim