95% sureThese words were traced back to where they first appeared. That source is listed below.
What turned up
Our Mutual Friend (1864-65), Book III Ch. 9 — spoken by John Rokesmith to Bella Wilfer.
Sources checked
en.wikiquote.orgChecked using claude-sonnet-5, 20 August 2026Wikiquote sourced section, Our Mutual Friend
gutenberg.orgChecked using claude-fable-5, 21 August 2026Our Mutual Friend (1864-65) — Rokesmith ('the Secretary') to Bella; exact line in primary text on Project Gutenberg