*             <code>null</code>.
     */
    public Object getNull() {
        int start = _next;
        int type = nextType();
        if (type == TYPE_NULL) {
            _serializedItemCount++;
            return null;
        }
        _next = start;
        Object object = get(null, null);
        if (object == null)
            return null;
        throw new ConversionException("Expected null");
    }