# Read a floating point on 64 bits and return it as a `Float`
	#
	# Returns `0.0` when an error is pending (`last_error != null`).
	fun read_double: Float
	do
		if last_error != null then return 0.0

		var b0 = read_byte
		var b1 = read_byte
		var b2 = read_byte
		var b3 = read_byte
		var b4 = read_byte
		var b5 = read_byte
		var b6 = read_byte
		var b7 = read_byte

		# Check for error, `last_error` is set by `read_byte`
		if b0 < 0 or b1 < 0 or b2 < 0 or b3 < 0 or
		   b4 < 0 or b5 < 0 or b6 < 0 or b7 < 0 then return 0.0

		return native_read_double(b0, b1, b2, b3, b4, b5, b6, b7, big_endian)
	end