For him Muscovite cookery was suspect.
Amidst the glories of Erfurt, Oudinot saw an incident that revealed the Czar's hidden feelings.

During one of their rides, the Emperors were stopped by a dyke, which Napoleon's steed refused to take; accordingly the Marshal had to help it across; but the Czar, proud of his horsemanship, finally cleared the obstacle with a splendid bound, though at the cost of a shock which broke his sword-belt.

The sword fell to the ground, and Oudinot was about to hand it to Alexander, when Napoleon quickly said: "Keep that sword and bring it to me later": then, turning to the Czar, he added: "You have no objection, Sire ?" A look of surprise and distrust flashed across the Czar's features; but, resuming his easy bearing, he gave his assent.

Later in the day, Napoleon sent his own sword to Alexander, and thus came off easily best from an incident which threatened at first to throw him into the shade.

The affair shows the ready wit and mental superiority of the one man no less than the veiled reserve and uneasiness of the other.
At the close of 1809, Alexander confessed his inner feeling to Czartoryski.