In order to save his face, he fabricated a fabulous story.

为了保全他的面子，他捏造了一个荒诞无稽的故事。

There's only one way in which a man can save his face when he's in that sort of position and that is to pretend he knows nothing.

一个人在那种情况下， 只有一种方法可以挽回他的面子， 那就是假装他什么都不知道。