private Value search(Node x, Key key, int ht) {
        Entry[] children = x.children;

        // external node
        if (ht == 0) {
            for (int j = 0; j < x.m; j++) {
                if (eq(key, children[j].key)) return (Value) children[j].value;
            }
        }

        // internal node
        else {
            for (int j = 0; j < x.m; j++) {
                if (j+1 == x.m || less(key, children[j+1].key))
                    return search(children[j].next, key, ht-1);
            }
        }
        return null;
    }