Answer:
write a letter to a friend in another town to tell him that you would like to stay with him for a week
The braising liquid has fond in it ( from carmelized drippings of meat and/or veggies that are stuck to the pan or pot after roasring or sauteing) , which can thicken sauces.
At first he was only slightly mad but as it went one with the raven saying "Nevermore" he realized the answers to his question were ones he didn't want to hear an he would never see his beloved Lenore again.
