SYNOPSIS
        string read_file(string file, int start, int number, string encoding)

DESCRIPTION
        Reads lines from file.
        If <start> is not given or 0, the file is read from the
        beginning, else the efun starts reading at the beginning of line
        <start>.

        If <number> is not given or 0, the whole file is read, else
        just the given amount of lines.

        <encoding> denotes the encoding to be used for decoding the file.
        If it is not given or 0, the H_FILE_ENCODING driver hook will
        be used.

        If <start> would be outside the actual size of the file, 0 is
        returned instead of a string.

        The maximum number of characters (not lines!) being read per
        call is LIMIT_FILE (see query_limits()).

HISTORY
        LDMud 3.6.0 added the <encoding> parameter.

SEE ALSO
        read_bytes(E), write_file(E), hooks(C)