List objects = Arrays.asList(1, 1L, "one", new Date(1));
excerpt.startExcerpt(293);
// a new ObjectOutputStream is required for each record as they are not reusable :(
ObjectOutputStream coos = new ObjectOutputStream(excerpt.outputStream());
coos.writeObject(objects);
coos.close();
excerpt.index(0);
assertEquals(293, excerpt.remaining());