CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. And, I’ve found a way to enter by force (6)

4. In short, a reptile gets us to come into flower (6)

9. A preliminary drawing of a vehicle to take on (7)

10. Temporarily put up with a teepee? (5)

11. One will almost get up with the flag (4)

12. To be an informer, one will be vocal (4)

13. Five-and-a-half yards of drain to clear out? (3)

15. Name one adopts for lighting: it’s a gas (4)

16. Don’t go on with the aperture setting (4)

19. Sort of welding used in familiar construction-work (3)

21. Commercial vehicle going east to show which way the wind blows (4)

22. Make haste and find the waistband (4)

24. Does it give one a window on the Loire? (5)

25. Fraudulently conspire with Colonel to arrange duel (7)

26. Half cowardly, went ahead and cried out (6)

27. Gesture of love that scares, in a way (6)

DOWN

1. Involving one in crime at home, maybe I’m in car with Tory (13)

2. Get over sin in one way of telling the story (7)

3. Doctor having small operation will not go on with it (4)

5. Engineers get an ambassador to send one down a division (8)

6. In the Diplomatic Corps one will sound hesitant as to drink (5)

7. Determination with which dates are broken quickly at the Loch (13)

8. One makes slow progress at its pace (5)

14. Double one up with five clues no different from this (8)

17. Take it one will quietly start again (7)

18. Tins returned by end of week giving one a bite to eat (5)

20. Sort of cold that’s caught on an upland (5)

23. It bites its host a trifle awkwardly to some degree (4) YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION: Across 1. Diplomat 4. Irate 8. Sirloin 9. Offered

10. Sale 12. Sidecar 14. Salvage 17. Wear 18. Convert 21. Overlay 22. Lover

23. Abnegate

Down 1. Disuse 2. Parallel 3. Oboe 4. Annoys 5. Pair 6. Sender 7. Infidel

11. Amateur 13. Camellia 14. Sickle 15. Entomb 16. Groyne 19. Nave

20. Peke