Public Function [Compare](ByVal a As Object, ByVal b As Object) As Integer
    If (a Is b) Then
        Return 0
    End If
    If (a Is Nothing) Then
        Return -1
    End If
    If (b Is Nothing) Then
        Return 1
    End If
 
    '...(Code für String-Vergleiche)
 
    Dim comparable As IComparable = TryCast(a,IComparable)
    If (comparable Is Nothing) Then
        Throw New ArgumentException
    End If
    Return comparable.CompareTo(b)
End Function