Inquisitor 1273

[Neveracrossword]

I'm finding it hard to get a way into this.
24 D. Valerian's about to stop abruptly about what broke loose in uproar (7) ??ea???

10 D. Where to get water very possibly with froth on top (8) ?e??l???

Thanks for any help. Nine answers must be adapted before entry - I hope these are not involved.

[boreas]

11A begins with 'Al' = gangster.

20A is anag of 'it's a goal', minus 's'.

26A the correct definition is 'plain'.

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks - will get cracking on those.
For 11 A, I had 'alone' (Al+own/has) hours ago, but then got 4 D which threw me off.

[boreas]

That's 'plain' as in geography.

[boreas]

The correct def for 11 is 'bushes'

[Neveracrossword]

Got the 'plain' one - similar to you and 'fines', I could have kicked myself.

[Neveracrossword]

11 D is another 'kick myself' one - I changed the wrong 's' !

[boreas]

going out for half hour, any more before I go?

[Neveracrossword]

You've been a great help - I'll battle on for a bit myself. Will post again if I grind to a total halt. 11 Down is bugging me most!

[Neveracrossword]

Boreas, I'm sorry - I forgot to check earlier if you'd got 41 A? (I solved that one a while ago, but didn't ask if you'd got it).
I have got nowhere with 11 Down, still have lots of gaps and don't know how to 'adapt' the affected answers.

[boreas]

Hi Never,

No, I haven't got 41A.
The 'command' tells you what you have to do with those 2 same letters in all the words.

[Neveracrossword]

Thanks, will have another think - I didn't see it was two letters, I had more!
41 A. Starts off as a long French (but fairly common) word for 'perplexed'. Remove (withdraw) 'French refusals' - they're at the start of that word.
The answer is defined at the start of the clue (think you'll kick yourself again) .

[boreas]

Did you mean a long but fairly common ENGLISH word, then remove the French refusal that starts it?

[Neveracrossword]

Yes, sorry - I thought it was a French word that had passed into English usage, but I've just checked and it's not.

[boreas]

well, i've finished now apart from 11 down.

[Neveracrossword]

That must be so, so frustrating. I know you've helped me a lot, so am not asking for more - but would be willing to have a bash at 11 D. At the moment I have ata?o?l??? If any of these are wrong, please let me know - and if you give me another letter or two, maybe I'd get there. (Two heads are better than one at times).

[boreas]

I agree about 2 heads.
I have ATA-OLH-S.
(Have you worked out the two same letters that have to be moved each time?)

[boreas]

Sorry!
That should have been
ATA-O-LH-S

[Neveracrossword]

I hope the letters are 'lh' - if I'm wrong, that's why I'm not getting anywhere.
Re 11, I think you've shown only 9 characters?

[Neveracrossword]

Sorry, my counting's gone to pot too!

[Neveracrossword]

What about 'At All Hours'? This fits 'irregularly', the charmer is 'houri' with the 'i' leaving, 'going out'. I cannot adapt it for the spaces, but you've got there with the others.