     }
 
     private func decode(base: Int) -> Character? {
-        guard
-            let code = UInt32(self, radix: base),
-            let unicode = UnicodeScalar(code)
-        else {
-            return .none
-        }
-        return Character(unicode)
+        return UInt32(self, radix: base)
+            .flatMap(UnicodeScalar.init)
+            .flatMap(Character.init)
     }
 }

                        }
                    }
                    push(tag: innerTag)
                case let .close(.some(innerTag)):
                    pop(tag: innerTag)
                    if innerTag == .paragraph && range.upperBound < index(before: endIndex) {
                        result.append("\n\n")

            let character = self[position]
            switch character {
            case "<":
                guard let (tag, range) = parseTag(after: position) else {
                    break parser
                }

                switch tag {
                case let .open(innerTag?):
                    if innerTag == .paragraph {
                        if range.lowerBound == startIndex {
                            balancedStartParagraphTag = true
