Had Armstrong been allowed to know every detail of this transaction, he could not have penetrated Napoleon’s secret; but for weeks he was kept in dense ignorance. Aware that the Prince of Peace had consented to negotiate, informed that Izquierdo had received powers and was authorized to proceed, Armstrong still found an invisible barrier across his path,--frivolous difficulties of form and unmeaning references to Madrid,--which no effort of his could remove. At a hint from Talleyrand he went to Marshal Duroc, a man of high character and abilities, who stood as near as the nearest to the Emperor, and who was conducting with Izquierdo the Spanish negotiations which Napoleon had taken from Talleyrand. Duroc seemed well disposed toward America; and through him Armstrong succeeded in putting into Napoleon’s hands the project of a treaty between the United States and Spain. After reading it attentively, the Emperor quietly returned it, without a word. Foiled again by this impenetrable mystery, Armstrong dreamed of forcing the Emperor’s hand. He could at least, by an official note, compel Talleyrand and Izquierdo either to act or to explain their inaction; but from this step he was dissuaded by Talleyrand and Duroc, who reasoned that precipitancy might do harm, but could do no good. Meanwhile Talleyrand wrote a despatch[278] to Turreau at Washington; and if Turreau understood its meaning, his insight was clearer than that of the Prince of Benevento himself. The tone of this instruction varied between a caress and a threat; but the threat came last, and was most significant:--