Answer:
B.Darren used to be fascinated by mummies.
out of the options I think "A" your first option sounds the most right. sorry if I'm wrong..hope my answer helps!
I would say the last sentence shows mockery the best: "Many a singer far better than this absurd fop had been driven amid execration and abuse from the platform." However, there might be others as well, such as: "The low note was a grunting, a rumble, the deep discordant growling of an ill-conditioned dog."