Boy: These sausages are mouldy.
Fagin: Shut up and drink your gin.
Fagin: Careful Bill, please, no violence.
Bill: Hand it over, you avaricious old skeleton.
Bill Sikes: You're a fine one for the boy to make a friend of.
Nancy: Yes, I am, Lord help me! But tonight he's a liar, and a thief, and all that's bad! Ain't that enough for you without beating him to death?
Bill: You can keep the books. Start a library.
Mr. Brownlow: In the eyes of the law, you are the more guilty of the two, for the law supposes that your wife acts under your direction.
Mr. Bumble: If that's what the law supposes, sir, then the law is a ass! If that be the eyes of the law, sir, then the law is a bachelor.
Chosen answer: They're probably concerned because he's a child. He might unintentionally say something without meaning to, or after some time has passed and more is learned about Oliver's past life at Fagin's hideout, it's conceivable he might be questioned more intensely. A child would likely give more information under pressure.
raywest