* IllegalArgumentException} if passed a {@code fromKey} less than an earlier {@code fromKey}.
   * However, this method doesn't throw an exception in that situation, but instead keeps the
   * original {@code fromKey}. Similarly, this method keeps the original {@code toKey}, instead of
   * throwing an exception, if passed a {@code toKey} greater than an earlier {@code toKey}.
   */
  @Override

   * IllegalArgumentException} if passed a {@code fromKey} less than an earlier {@code fromKey}.
   * However, this method doesn't throw an exception in that situation, but instead keeps the
   * original {@code fromKey}. Similarly, this method keeps the original {@code toKey}, instead of
   * throwing an exception, if passed a {@code toKey} greater than an earlier {@code toKey}.
   */
  @Override

   * comparator to look for it wherever it wants.
   *
   * Note that we do NOT touch the comparator returned by comparator(), which
   * should be identical to the one the user passed in. We touch only the
   * "secret" comparator used by the delegate implementation.
   */

  private static <K, V> SortedMap<K, V> newModifiableDelegate(Comparator<? super K> comparator) {
    return newTreeMap(nullAccepting(comparator));
  }