CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 Undermine Conservative pledge

to maintain order (10)

6 Check large sum of money on

the counter (4)

9 Mum rushes to eat minute

seafood items (7)

10 Native American artist, old man

entering American house (7) 12 Nice funeral is arranged, this

could pay for it? (4,9)

14 Doctor too busy to inject country's top young explorer? (3,5)

15 Highlight French writer's grave,

for instance (6)

17 Number facing Leftist regularly

sacrificed principles (6)

19 One having friends for dinner

perhaps? (8)

21 Masterful writer, one against revolutionary musical that's opening (13)

24 Burdened after losing wife, ineffectual character does poorly (7)

25 Senselessness of the Italian in

charge defending record (7) 26 Bank subsidiary (4)

27 Count on a northern city that's

disheartened finding hope (10)

DOWN

1 Method of payment when

visiting Switzerland (4) 2 Colleague supporting male soldiers in virtuous manner (7) 3 Consequences if I'm seen around wearing shabby raincoat? Scorn, primarily (13)

4 Secret fascination with pine for furniture material reportedly (8)

5 Waters small trees (5)

7 A little extra I need to give

apprentice (7)

8 Rocket design India managed to

finish early (10) 11 House plant fanatic Oliver is

unusual (7,6)

13 Reports of significant departures from the Telegraph maybe? (10)

16 Engineer amazing conclusion to game for Arsenal (8)

18 Liquid a pet once upset,

covering jotter (4-3) 20 Weapon found in Aberdeen oddly abandoned, good French one (4,3) 22 Trendy clothes, we hear,

making catalogue (5)

23 Bill attends hospital with injury, ultimately it's painful (4)