# File lib/rbreadline.rb, line 7584
  def _rl_char_search(count, fdir, bdir)
    mbchar = ''
    mb_len = _rl_read_mbchar(mbchar, MB_LEN_MAX)

    if (mbchar.class == Fixnum && c < 0) || mbchar == 0.chr
      return -1
    end

    if (count < 0)
      return (_rl_char_search_internal(-count, bdir, mbchar, mb_len))
    else
      return (_rl_char_search_internal(count, fdir, mbchar, mb_len))
    end
  end