CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

ACROSS

1. Lively old dance in which leading lady would go full out (6) 8. A turn Academician is given in Roman market place (5) 9. As tuneful as such old mice can be (7)

11. Is sentimentally inclined to cram in a roundabout way (8) 12. Scatter the last of the pepper in the ragout (5)

15. If no other sort, at least dry sherry is produced (4)

16. The container has but to be returned (3)

17. Follow orders? One order, at the start of the year (4)

19. Lay off bets between one garden and the next, perhaps (5) 21. He’ll take limo out and, exaggerating, make a mountain of it (8)

24. Farther back in time it was rare lie that was made up (7)

25. It’s what one stands on that may have one stumped (5)

26. A small feline from Kent, it could be (6)

DOWN

2. At holding the parson up will turn it aside (5)

3. There’s one watching the lone rook to be moved (6-2) 4. There’s two for one, in the allowable number of strokes (4) 5. Balaclava never showed up such an architect of shipping (5) 6. It is a measure of the infantry (4)

7. Prohibition is first conceived by the judges’ bench (4)

10. It is possible to credit couples with a bit of blood (9)

12 If it’s yielding, it may be apt to fall in price (4)

13. One’s disguise is permitted to be like a counterpane (8) 14. Where they’re housing cows in the lobby, reputedly (4) 18. Nurse such an extortioner as this? (5)

20. A diving bird found in the bag rebel is holding (5)

21. A bungler may make it to warm his hands (4)

22. This may impend, like the shaft of an oar (4)

23. There’s a shortage of a great deal of money in India, one is told (4)