CRYPTIC CROSSWORD

▶ Across 1. Assume it's the mail has broken a lute (9)

5. Chess piece will hop off twice (3)

7. Piece endlessly rewritten, but it's a great story (4)

8. Italian capital dweller with facial twitch is sentimental (8)

10. Bird involved in a duel possibly at some height (8)

11. In bottles sometimes there isn't as much (4)

13. Must bear it to the finish, sure of not starting (6)

15. A being may be seen through his child, who's male (6)

18. Hybrid tea may be produced by watering- can sprinkler (4)

19. Bird previously put on by judge pronouncing death sentence (8)

22. Service book shows a rib, very out of place (8)

23. Country of pure potential (4)

24. Show one agrees with its land in the Bible (3) 25. Steady application was shown by a stage- coach in France (9) ▶ Down 1. Read it first in order to get cap free ( 7)

2. Keep one short of a day's work (5)

3. Keeps out of the way of empty space as it's around (6)

4. The impetuosity of the French is in the language (4)

5. Takes trouble, with herbs, to mix them ( 7)

6. The blows that may be afoot (5)

9. Bird substituting for midwife, they say (5)

12. It's pax, or a part of it, one is told (5)

14. Did surround the nets put up to spread ( 7)

16. Write up a song for a marine deity ( 7)

17. Could be all up, including the right, and that's not singular (6)

18. Sparrow's victim may have been born to take one in (5)

20. Not guilty of breaking lance (5)

21. It's porridge for 9, 19 or 18 Down, say (4)