CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. They copy Roman figures in writing (6)

4. Open place at street junction to find acrobats in (6)

9. Having creased the back-end, went ahead (7)

10. Literary composition, or a part of one (5)

11. It’s very bad to be six in the Spanish version (4)

12. Have to look hard to find one’s equal (4)

13. Old Indian coin was enough for a welcome luxury (3)

15. Thus united, rebel leaders may be turned (4)

16. Mop up the ink and get out to obliterate it (4)

19. Wrongfully deprive one, or return to bandleader (3)

21. Make a reservation as to the libretto (4)

22. Half the Socialists return to one island (4)

24. Wide on top? (5)

25. After gold, people in a race will inflict torture (7)

26. Passes some time if one uses money (6)

27. In this place, given firm lead, we can hang together (6)

DOWN

1. Covent, Hatton: only the first will take their produce! (6,7)

2. Familiar parents, having been worked on by embalmers (7)

3. A hundred aged, having head complaint (4)

5. Mischievous kids about to change lire one puts at risk (8)

6. A sound from the nest has no expensive soundalike (5)

7, 14 Down. More than Mother Hubbard expected to find, she would have wished to hide (8,2,3,8)

8. Landed, dashed up and put something more on in part (5)

14. see 7 Down

17. Half-sneeze after role reversal may be swing in 4 (7)

18. Find it at the back of car at end of day for plunder (5)

20. Graduate article to immerse oneself in (5)

23. Two lose heart about right one being duet plus one (4)

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

Across: 1. Glaziers 7. Prose 8. Between 9. Dwindle 10. Opal

12. Rosebud 14. Mystery 17. Isle 18. Martial 21. Learner

22. Noose 23. Educated

Down: 1. Gibbon 2. Attracts 3. Item 4. Render 5. Wood 6. Behead

7. Priests 11. Precise 13. Bassinet 14. Miming 15. Yelled

16. Feared 19. Room 20. Talc