Śatapatha Brāhmaṇa ("of a hundred paths") 2.4.1.10

2.4.1.10

sa vai khalu tūṣṇīmevopatiṣṭheta | idaṃ vai yasminvasati brāhmaṇo vā rājā vā śreyānmanuṣyo nveva tameva nārhati vaktumidam me tvaṃ gopāya prāhaṃ vatsyāmītyathāsminnete śreyāṃso vasanti devā agnayaḥ ka u tānarhati vaktumidam me yūyaṃ gopāyata prāhaṃ vatsyāmīti

However, one may also approach the fires silently,--and that for this reason:--If in the place (where one lives), a Brâhman or noble--in short, a better man--resides, one dares not say to him, 'I am going on a journey, take care of this (property) of mine!' Now in this (sacrificial ground) one's betters indeed reside, viz. the divine Agnis: who, then, would dare to say to them, 'I am going on a journey, take ye care of this (property) of mine!'