}

        return this.size;
    }


    private static String readString ( byte[] buffer, int bufferIndex, int len ) {
        // this is not absolutely correct, but we assume that the header is aligned
        if ( ( bufferIndex % 2 ) != 0 ) {
            bufferIndex++;
        }
        return Strings.fromUNIBytes(buffer, bufferIndex, Strings.findUNITermination(buffer, bufferIndex, len));
    }