Significance of Thieves' Kitchen

The Thieves' Kitchen is a big open shed where horses are sold. It is called the Thieves' Kitchen, because no one asks where the horses sold there come from or who is buying them. Many of the horses are stolen and are therefore sold for very cheap prices. The fact that the Cook went to the Thieves' Kitchen to sell Sham shows how desperate he was to get rid of Sham. He knew he would not get much money at the Thieves' Kitchen, but it is the fastest way to get the horse sold.