* to call getCopy and removeAllNodes only with a true K, then we could check containsKey first.
     * But that check wouldn't eliminate the warnings.)
     */
    @SuppressWarnings({"unchecked", "nullness"})
    K castKey = (K) key;
    List<V> oldValues = getCopy(castKey);
    removeAllNodes(castKey);
    return oldValues;
  }

  @Override