knocking down walls, page-23

The sudden shift from nickel reminds me of the classic Faulty Towers exchange over the long-awaited duck:

Basil: Ladies and gentlemen, so sorry to have kept you waiting.

Basil prepares to carve the duck by sharpening the carving knife on the steel. He lifts the lid of the closhe to reveal a trifle.

Basil: Well, ahh, who’s for trifle?
Mr Hall (load and very angry): WHAT!
Basil: A trifles you Mrs Hall?
Mr Hall: What about the duck, Fawlty?
Basil: (deadpan): Ahhh, duck’s off, sorry.

Nickel is the new duck!