CRYP TIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS 1 Shifty last retailer picked up tableware item (4,6) 6 Pity, for the most part, is pretence (4) 9 Flier confined by ambassador to land (7) 10 Adopt mainly dull and

nice changes (7) 12 Traditionalists sign after

performance by soldiers (13) 14 Observer in privy meeting

with broker, half cut (8) 15 Remain absorbed by tatty rug

that’s not as attractive (6) 17 Shape a student in accordance

with convention (6) 19 Independent female protected

by friendly source of power (4,4) 21 Government permits spirits,

showing such wit (7,6) 24 Calls and records a sale (5,2) 25 Wrong in law to accept

soldiers suffering (7) 26 Crush fly (4) 27 Count Basie perhaps vetoed broadcast, needing editor’s opinion (10)

DOWN 1 Weep, hugging Liberal —

a slovenly type (4) 2 Former king with a

line on the side (7) 3 Speakers supporting company dance set up as partners in crime (13) 4 Extend stage to include end of apron afterwards (8) 5 Friend from Spain making a

motorway turn (5) 7 Entertainer who was bound to show unconfined relief (7) 8 Mass with moral sets off destructive situations (10) 11 Put on new clothes with fashionable source and did a turn? (7,6) 13 Set up as prisoner and judged (10) 16 Located audit set for revision (8) 18 Softens, finding the French trapped in leases (7) 20 Draught beer’s top for this idiot (7) 22 One cuts copies up in colour (5) 23 Prison involved in raising of merit systems (4)