bool matches(char ca) {
    switch(T) {
    case Lit: return c == ca;
    case Opt: return (set & (1 << (ca - 'a'))) != 0;
    }
  }



replacing THIS
  //  if(!M[i].matches(word[i])) return false;

manual inlining HERE

    Match &ma = M[i];
    switch(ma.T) {
    case Lit: if(ma.c != word[i]) return false;
    case Opt: if(!((ma.set & (1 << (word[i] - 'a'))) != 0)) return false;
    }