GUARDIAN CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1 A Conservative in decline, making phony public appearance (6)

4 Sign of support rowing crew draped over a vessel's front (6)

9 Golden retriever's bark? (4)

10 Drink stored in pottery pieces for those who bring home the bacon? (10) 11 Verse Hindus, with no end of dread, composed for deity (6)

12 They don't appreciate empty art framed by French painter (8) 13 Attend after male, with skill, produces vital sign (9)

15 Deal, for example, made by court with defence, initially (4)

16 Spades may be kept here, or discarded (4)

17 I led a riot astray, as leader (9) 21 Geometrical puzzle — left with nothing in the box? Congratulations! (5,3) 22 Chap briefly called into unit when

expected (2,4)

24 Knave cut a golf club's trees (10) 25 Part of calix I analyse in plant

from South Africa (4)

26 Eg Spielberg putting magnificent number in movie about time (6) 27 Existing skill female's lacking up front (2,4)

DOWN

1 Overlook part of certain addresses put in number of letters in error (7) 2 Metonym for clergy, group in church (5)

3 Interrupt attempt, including routines set up (7) 5 Just off the bottom, elsewhere in sound (6)

6 Ring fan, perhaps, and old pro agree, possibly (9)

7 Study about Edward, Henry and Elizabeth I, say (7)

8 Inequality of computer age discernible in this puzzle (with a single exception) (7,6)

14 Put back up in tree, leave in disarray (2-7)

16 In audition, pick out instrument that might be found in school (3,4) 18 Newspaper magnate once producing

nothing in months, oddly (7)

19 Queen clad in a kind of silk found in cupboard (7)

20 Attack from air in last

RAF exercise (6)

23 Followers that may be called out, as bit of money's raised? (5)