However, he knew very well the haunts most frequented by the four bullies who had taken it into their heads to persecute the perruquier's daughter.

They probably bore Cale a grudge for his action towards them upon the Sunday when there had been the fight in the street; and certainly if he had had any idea that they were seeking to touch him through his child, he would have been exceedingly uneasy, and his business must have suffered.
"I will keep a watch upon them," said Harry Gay, who was quite pleased to join with so great a man as Tom Tufton had become in some affair of this sort; "I will have an eye to them, and if I think they are starting off for the north of the town, I will run at once and fetch you; and we will follow and outstrip them, for they must needs stop at every tavern as they go, and we can slip by and be ready for them at Highgate." So Tom remained for the most part in and about his lodging for the next day or two, pleased enough to watch the busy life of the streets, and hear the gossip of the young dandies in Cale's shop.
No word of any kind came to him from Lord Claud during this time of waiting; but Tom had no anxieties as to the money he was to receive for his services, and Master Cale had still a few guineas in hand from the sum left to pay for his lodging chamber in his absence, which Tom had desired to continue to rent, that he might leave there his worldly possessions.
It was on the forenoon of Wednesday that Harry came to seek him, all eagerness and speed.
"They have started forth towards the north," he said, "and I heard a few scraps of talk, and am certain that they are bound for Highgate.

We shall quickly overtake and pass them; and, with the help of honest William, we will give them such a lesson as shall make them avoid the locality for the rest of their lives, I hope.
So, if you are ready, let us be off." Tom was ready in a trice, and very soon they found themselves following in the track of the four young rakes, who were swaggering along the sunny streets in their usual rolling way, accosting and insulting the passers by, knocking citizens' hats into the gutter, singing scraps of ribald songs, and ready to come to blows with any other bullies who might run up against them.
But it was not long before they swaggered into an alehouse; and then Tom and Harry went swiftly by, and, taking the straight route up to Highgate, arrived there long before the others could be expected.
Rosamund was tending her flowers in the garden when they came up to the gate, and looked up with a smile and a blush.

She was alone in the house that day, she said, save for the servant woman, who was very deaf.

This suited very well for the present purpose, as they did not desire that the aunt should be alarmed.
They bade Rose remain in the garden for the next few hours, and they would hide in a clump of bushes at the corner and watch what betided.