}

    boolean rangeContains(@CheckForNull Object o) {
      return o != null
          && (lowerBound == null || compare(lowerBound, o) <= 0)
          && (upperBound == null || compare(upperBound, o) > 0);
    }

    @Override
    public SortedMap<C, V> subMap(C fromKey, C toKey) {
      checkArgument(rangeContains(checkNotNull(fromKey)) && rangeContains(checkNotNull(toKey)));