22 said ‘29 11’ (five words, ignore an apostrophe), suggesting the placing of the
other unclued lights.

Across

1    Once rush from county, as ire subsides (5)

4    Essential component of maximum break for players (3,6)

10    Open to sympathy as a barrel breaks cabinet (10)

12    Two ancients drinking a gallon in the shade (3,4)

14    In hospital, digesting a meal of blood (6)

16    Give preliminary payment for some guitar lessons (4)

17    Tidy number consumed (6)

23    In Ibsen role, book fast speaker (7)

24    Bills from Bible Society (4)

25    Anxious to drop a bore (4)

27    Aid poet to be quirky like Coleridge (7)

34    Lord, one after a sweetheart (6)

36    Over in Oban, with seaweed around (4)

37    Building material’s key element (6)

38    Not in practice, I dawdle to save energy (7)

39    Half idle talk leads to minor stroke (6)

40    Still bony, and without a hair-band? (10)

41    Person in service always carrying weapon (9)

42    Mule such a beast, of burden (5)

Down

2    Crazy meal includes unleavened bread (5)

3    Elects contralto: I’ve made a mistake about tenor (2-4)

4    Sceptically question a new engineer (7)

5    Good for nothing, squander pounds (5)

7    Seaweeds a big bird won’t finish up (5)

9    I rode off into deplorable street (4,4)

13    Sort of carp, beginning to lift heavy weight (7)

15    Go mad, seeing large number eating whale (4,2)

18    One not reacting as judge is lost in legal terminology (5)

19    Cut from the neck, born nuisance losing head — death! (4,3)

20    Stranger will adopt candle (6,3)

21    Dress circle, divine (6)

22    By the edges, plan to hold green sort of cracker (5)

26    Almost pink mixture in cordial (7)

30    One going ahead wanting herring, putting line out (6)

31    Say, purchase mushrooms for a bender (6)

32    Resources and title for woman about to give birth (5)

33    Parking space at ends of large barrier (5)

Download a printable version here.

A first prize of £30 and two runners-up prizes of £20 for the first correct solutions opened on 19 February. Please scan or photograph entries and email them (including the crossword number in the subject field) to crosswords@spectator.co.uk, or post to: Crossword 2639, The Spectator, 22 Old Queen Street, London SW1H 9HP. Please allow six weeks for prize delivery./>

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