CRYPTIC CROSSWORD
Across
1. It will prove painful to the French to move so rapidly (6)
4. One involved with the land a distance away on the sea in France (6)
9. Five last month were certain not to start the bird (7)
10. He doubts good: fancy nicely revealed (5)
11. Have one on – have only half eaten nothing before ten (4)
12. Trepidation a good way away incorporating the East (4)
13. Spoil the backward thrust (3)
15. Weighty place finds Conservative with internal upset (4)
16. Move round and round: it’s getting back right at the end (4)
19. None excluded a driver under instruction of about fifty (3)
21. She encourages and then drops the Italian just replacing us (4)
22. A lot of countries like the interior part of Siam (4)
24. At home for most of Lent, say, put one under (5)
25. Maybe a portrait of one held by copper: true, it’s different (7)
26. Wish to die without one to be father to (6)
27. Doesn’t go on without complication when caught in riot gas (6)
Down
1. Be inclined to be only semi-capable of thought? (4,4,1,4)
2. Is depending on the Spanish one to rave about (7)
3. No pleasant expression, look! It’s your second half (4)
5. Bill presented to man of the church is exact (8)
6. Either way, note measured by apothecary (5)
7. Sportsmen achieving best times, etc, turning discs (6-7)
8. Up and down, it’s flat (5)
14. A tricky performer will swindle one in the box (8)
17. Saves copper among seers, unfortunately (7)
18. Quietly passes the men near the wicket (5)
20. Much that’s American flowers in the Orient (5)
23. Long for revolutionary to be given a leader (4)