Sentence:  The simple truth, if adhered to, might not have answered the pur poses of the narrator, because lapses from conjugal fidelity are unhappily not crimes unknown or unpardonable in Italy; but when to it were added exaggerated representations of the disgraceful <WSD>"esclandre</WSD>" of a public elopement, and the death of the deserted husband, stated to have been caused by the misconduct of the wife, the utmost indignation was excited. 
Meaning of the word marked with <WSD> tags:  An incident that ocasions much disapproving talk; scandalous conduct; a scene.