| (b7 & 0xFFL) << 8
        | (b8 & 0xFFL);
  }

  /*
   * Moving asciiDigits into this static holder class lets ProGuard eliminate and inline the Longs
   * class.
   */
  static final class AsciiDigits {
    private AsciiDigits() {}

    private static final byte[] asciiDigits;

    static {
      byte[] result = new byte[128];
      Arrays.fill(result, (byte) -1);