CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Married when about to be unwell but became testate? (6)

4. Rigorously observed, cry stilt is wobbling (8)

9. Very bad rent to payout (6)

10. Just about all right for plebs as a transformation (8)

12. Difficult days for Dickens to put a name to (4,5)

13. I had been in front, but did nothing (5)

14. The railway: it’s the indefinitely remaining method (9,3)

18. Male/female relationship apparent when Rex let a house out (12)

21. Before one, there’s a chief (5)

22. Coming to see the genuine one, give voice to it (9)

24. Try the London Underground for glass in the laboratory (4-4)

25. Garment from the East for Kipling boy on the ring (6)

26. Calamity tired SAS out (8)

27. Pure expedition after carbon (6)

DOWN

1. Is at prayer for the magistrates? (8)

2. Being bookish, tarry and lie around (8)

3. Get someone standing a seat? (5)

5. In the changeover period switch strain to nail (12)

6. Get things going in the street with one entrance (9)

7. Part of the altar rendered by tuba at Los Angeles (6)

8. Yes, lid is shattered as it gives in (6)

11. I’m a writer and, being French, perhaps blear – can’t be got through to! (12)

15. Tales can confuse the East one infatuatedly loves (9)

16. It’s clear to us, lion – um – must twist! (8)

17. Up which the standard may be run (8)

19. Left each other even with Edward (6)

20. Against us, French poetry is in the lead (6)

23. Whiskey Hibernian? (5)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION: Across: 1. Coper 4. Freedom

8. Manufacturers 10. Loose 11. Evil 12. Snug 16. Alert 17. Interlocutors

19. Nacelle 20. Siren

Down: 1. Commiseration 2. Pun 3. Raffle 4. Factor 5. Eludes

6. Dwellings 7. Missing person 9. Enigmatic 13. Patrol 14. Become

15. Struts 18. Oar