private boolean readExpected( char expected,
				  StringBuffer b
				  )
	throws IOException {

	if( !readChar() )
	    return false;
	
	boolean matches =
	    ( this.currentChar == expected ||
	      ( !this.caseSensitive 
		&& Character.toLowerCase(this.currentChar) == Character.toLowerCase(expected) 
		)
	      );

	if( matches && b != null )
	    b.append( this.currentChar );

	return matches;
    }