Answer:
the underlined portion of the sentence it C. adjectival phrase
Explanation:
We must be careful not to be fooled by the use of "before". In the context and manner it is used here, "before" is a synonym for "in front of". It is heading the phrase that modifies the verb "brought", and it is indicating a place. Therefore, we are talking of an adverb of place. The whole phrase functions as an adverb, indicating to where Charles Darnay would be brought.
The correct answer is predicate adjective.
A predicate adjective is the first adjective found after a linking verb (used to link, or connect two parts of a sentence). In the sentence above, the linking verb is <em>seemed </em>and the first (and the only) adjective after it is the word rapid.
There are no objects in the sentence so B and D are incorrect, and given that rapid is an adjective rather than a noun, A is also incorrect.
