private void scanSeparator() {
    switch (currentChar) {
    case '!':
      {
        takeIt();
        while ((currentChar != SourceFile.EOL) && (currentChar != SourceFile.EOT))
          takeIt();
        if (currentChar == SourceFile.EOL)
          takeIt();
      }
      break;

    case ' ': case '\n': case '\r': case '\t':
      takeIt();
      break;
    }
  }